The Truth is...

About four weeks passed before, Rem finally convinced Tiaopi to come to his house. She always kept finding excuses. "I don't think I would really be...comfortable there. Plus, I don't know the people there personally," Tiaopi said. Rem knew the underlying reason why she didn't want to go there. Being around Tiaopi, he had heard some of the blatant accusations against her for being a mere harlot. Before Rem could reply back in fury, Tiaopi would just roll her eyes and pulled Rem by the arm to move to another place. She never really talked about how she felt about them, but Rem knew enough of Tiaopi to know she was strong-willed.

However, that didn't mean that she could handle a place where she would feel as if she wasn't supposed to belong there. "I promise you that you'll love it. Plus, there's free food." When he said that, Tiaopi looked at him with a face that was as emotionless as Tigress's face. She rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Fine, I'll go." The two walked to the house. Rem noticed that Tiaopi's grip on his arm was getting tighter and tighter as they approached the house. Rem opened the door. The whole group, except Tigress, was there. They saw Tiaopi.

"Well, is this the mysterious Tiaopi we've been hearing about?" Gun-Ho smiled. Rem grimaced a bit. Even he knew that Gun-Ho could say something offensive, which was his first main concern. Tiaopi respectfully bowed.

"It is an honor to meet all of you," Tiaopi said formally. Monkey laughed.

"No need to be so formal. Relax, you're among friends."

"Yes, good friends," Said Qiang. Tiaopi's eyes widened as he saw the old tiger. "It's good to see you, Tiaopi. I haven't seen you in a while."

"I've... I've been around," Tiaopi stuttered. It was silent for a moment.

"So," Monkey started up, breaking the silence, "How was your day in the village, Rem? We've been so lonely without you," Monkey said dramatically. Rem rolled his eyes as he walked Tiaopi over to the table. She became hesitant.

"Um... I don't think I should stay," She whispered to Rem.

"Why not?" He asked. Tiaopi's brave confidence seemed to have completely swept away. She backed up nervously.

"It's just... I don't want to intrude and make a- EEP!" Tiaopi bumped into someone behind her. She slowly turned around to see Tigress, who had stealthily walked in. "Hi," She sheepishly said turning around and looking up at her. She was much shorter than Tigress and Tigress seemed to tower over her. Tigress smiled.

"We have hazelnut ice cream for dessert. Please stay," Tigress said. Tiaopi's eyes widened. It was her favorite dessert. "We also have great bean buns and the best noodle soup you ever had."

"Po told you the secret recipe?" Monkey asked.

"I am his wife," Tigress replied. "So, will you stay?" There was something about Tigress's attitude towards Tiaopi that put her at ease. Tiaopi was actually really afraid of meeting Tigress, not the others. That's why she wanted to stay away. She felt as if she wasn't good enough for her presence. Tigress seemed like an ultimate figure of approval for her. She feared if she didn't make the cut, by her appearance or character, Tigress would essentially condemn her.

"I'll stay," Tiaopi replied. Tigress smiled. So they all sat down. Tiaopi felt very welcomed. So much so in fact, that she began to show her real character. With her fear of them condemning her away, she felt like she could be very relaxed with them. "What is it like serving the Master?"

"It's never a dull day," Monkey commented, passing the bowl of fruit, "We're all servants of the Master, technically. Tigress, Po, and a chosen few are called to actually hear the Master."

"So are they more important?" Tiaopi asked.

"No," Tigress answered, "Without Monkey, I wouldn't be able to establish the poor center here. Without Gun-Ho, I wouldn't have someone with the effort to do hard tasks. Without Rem, I wouldn't have a passionate person for the Master at my hand. Everyone is needed in the Master's plan. Few answer the call."

"I wish I were included in that," Tiaopi commented.

"There's room for everyone," Tigress explained. Tiaopi smiled. Then she became honest and chuckled a bit.

"Remy," Tiaopi laughed as he winced at his nickname, "You and Gun-Ho are students of Ulaghai?"

"Yes, why?"

"I just figured that out yesterday. I knew you were students of Tigress, but I didn't know you were also students of Ulaghai."

"Why is that important?" Rem asked.

"Well, I heard that the students of Ulaghai were very...narrow-minded. It would explain a lot of your attitude when we first met," Tiaopi smirked.

"You scared me!"

"That's not the point," Tiaopi replied cheekily.

"What is then?" Rem asked narrowing his eyes at her.

"The point is that she's right," Gun-Ho commented. "I'm a loudmouth, several our friends with Ulaghai are racist, the others are unstable, another section of us are either too strict or too liberal, and you have a childish temper. We have problems. It's not something we're proud of but it's something we have to admit if we're ever going to get better." Tigress smiled.

"You're learning," Tigress replied.

"I guess you're right," Rem sighed. Tiaopi cheekily smiled.

"Well, I have to go. I thank you so much for the food," She said as she stood up and bowed. Tigress stood up as well, went over to her, and hugged her. Tiaopi was greatly shocked. Everyone else in the room was as well.

"You are welcome here anytime," Tigress smiled. Tiaopi smiled back. With that, she left. Rem exhaled a big puff of air.

"That was a miracle. I didn't think she would stay," Rem said.

"That's why I asked the Master to help us make her feel at home. From what I heard about her through you, I figured that she would have a hard time becoming attached to us," Tigress replied.

"Why did you hug her?" Monkey asked. Tigress smiled.

"The Master does things in mysterious ways. And so do I," She replied.

Over time, Tiaopi and Rem got to know each other very well. One day, they were laying down by the mountainside that was lighted by the sun. On this side, the beautiful meadow moved like a wave from the gentle breezes. Rem and Tiaopi were laying down looking at the clouds, laughing and talking. "Okay, your turn."

"Okay, let's see. I... I'm honestly not mad all the time," Rem confessed. Tiaopi sat up and looked at him with a doubting smirk.

"Really?" She said unbelievingly.

"I'm serious. I don't hate every living thing. I'm just annoyed very easily," Rem explained.

"Aren't we all," Tiaopi replied.

"I know that it may come off as being angry but I'm not really that angry. It's a habit I really do want to get rid of."

"Alright, I'll believe that," Tiaopi said laying back down.

"Okay, you're next."

"Okay," She said excitedly. Then she was quiet for a while before she said something. "Actually, I have two things."

"Okay, what are they?" Rem asked curiously.

"I'm not poor," Tiaopi said. Rem's ears perked up.

"You're not?"

"No, I know that how I dress and how I act may seem that way, but... I actually do have a place I stay at. I'm actually kind of... royalty." Tiaopi explained. Rem propped himself on the side and looked at her.

"Why are you telling me this now?" He asked. There was a shred of him that thought she was bluffing but he knew that she was telling the truth.

"You wouldn't have believed me. Plus... I didn't think you would become my friend. I've had enough time to learn that because I have money, people will be my friend," Tiaopi replied. Rem laid back down.

"Alright, what's the next thing?" He asked, looking at the clouds. Tiaopi sighed.

"I'm a virgin," Tiaopi explained. Rem knew EXACTLY why she said that. He winced. Rem sighed and sat up, looking at her by his side.

"I'll admit I... I did think when we first met that you were..."

"A harlot?" Tiaopi finished. Rem bowed his head in shame. She couldn't stay mad at him. "You're not the first one. Everyone thinks that way. Just because I act and dress the way I dress, people think I'm trash."

"I'm so sorry that I even thought of you like that for a moment," Rem apologized. They were silent for a moment. "It wouldn't have actually mattered if you were a prostitute or not." Tiaopi sat up and looked at him.

"Why's that?"

"Because we have a friend of ours that's married to a former prostitute, and the Dragon Warrior married them. We're actually kind of use to it," Rem explained. Tiaopi's eyes widened.

"You servants are very liberal."

"No, we just love like the Master does. And that kind of love is something that even Po can't fully understand," Rem declared. Tiaopi looked at him blankly, then her face curled into a smile. She tackled him with a hug. Rem couldn't help but laugh at her playful demeanor. Then she became serious.

"Thank you for loving me just like I am and not how I should be," Tiaopi said.

"That's how love works," Rem replied. Then he noticed how close they were. "Um... Tiaopi?" The tiger suddenly realized their position. She immediately jumped off.

"Sorry, sorry," She said nervously chuckling. Rem chuckled a bit too, but he also blushed.

So their relationship bloomed. A lot has changed here and I feel very comfortable leaving here. I will see you in a month. Po smiled at the letter. Viper slithered into Po's room. "How is Tigress?"

"She's doing very well," Po smiled. Then Po turned his attention to Viper. "And how are you doing?"

"Great, as always," Viper said, giving Po a confused smile. "Why do you ask?"

"Hey, I have to make sure all of my friends are okay."

"Even Mantis?" Viper smirked.

"I HEARD THAT!" Mantis shouted from the door. Both Viper and Po laughed.

Continued...