AN: Hello everybody. It's been a very long time since I've posted, but I've lately had some great ideas for this story. I hope you've been well and if not, I hope this chapter cheers you up. :) Enjoy~

It had been long months since Tai Lung had anyone visit him with the exception of the filthy rhinos. It would be fair to say that he had grown more accustomed to the condition of Chorh-Gom Prison. It was infested with rodents and the place failed to shelter him from the freezing nights nor the scorching heat in the afternoons. Then there were the abusive treatments which were dished out countless times per day. Such actions including throwing food in his face during his meals, kicking him in the face, and the scum, Commander Vachir's personal favourite hobby was stomping on his tail whenever the man had the opportunity. Then there were occasional 'events' when the guards would place bids on how close they could shoot their crossbows to where he sat

As for today, he had buckets of icy water dumped onto him from the rhinos who laughed and jeered at him from above. If there was anything he hated more, it was cold waters- he even had a great distaste for cold showers since he was a child. However while he lived his sentence here, he learned to ignore and give no reaction to the rhinos because his steely glare only made them unsatisfied. It undoubtedly made him angrier each time they mocked and abused him, but Tai Lung was slowly aiming to regain inner peace as Tigress asked him to. It was definitely difficult as the ignorant rhinos ceaselessly bothered him, but at night he could find a sliver of peace.

He could reflect on his life at night where nobody could see or disrupt him. Yet it was during the cold, bitter nights that he recognized what pained him the most. It wasn't the physical pain which was delivered throughout the day, but the fact that Tigress hadn't visited him ever again. A part of him felt mad that she didn't come and see him... it was as if she had forgotten about him. Meanwhile another part of him felt sad that he couldn't see her again, the leopard feared that he would forget her scent, her touch, her face while he remained locked in the prison. However, he knew what he felt the most was the sense of abandonment and loneliness in the darkness. Tai Lung missed Tigress more than anything.

Has she truly forgotten about me?

He pondered that hopeless question while another water droplet dripped down onto the cold, grey ground. The thought of never being able to see or hear her was terrifying more than anything. It was a possibility, after all he was locked up in a mountain far away from any society. During his stay, he did question himself the same question that Tigress had asked him, how did I land myself here? I was a legend. A prodigy. The youngest and the best Kung Fu Master.

Perhaps it was a good idea to have been soaked because it was cooling his temper. It was more than accurate to state that he was bitter about his pathetic state, this humiliating position was a far cry from what he had promised to Tigress. All of a sudden, Tai Lung could here a loud knock from above and the rhinoceroses finally stopped laughing at him. He couldn't see anything, but he hoped that it was the one person he desperately desired to see.

However the reaction from the guards were different this time which suggested that it wasn't Tigress. Then there was that familiar scent of sandalwood incense which was constantly burnt in Jade Palace. Tai Lung could easily distinguish that familiar scent. Tigress had a keen sense of smell like him, so she also disliked the smell enough to avoid getting her clothes perfumed by the incense. The only two people who loved the smell: the old Oogway and his father who betrayed and placed him in this hateful place, Shifu.

The old tortoise evidently hated him so there wasn't any reason for him to visit and Tai Lung had no interest to meet the man who denied him of his fate and calling. He could hear several feet stomping down to where he was and then there was the creaking noise from the old, manual elevator. The snow leopard always kept his head down to avoid unnecessary harassment or confrontation, however if it was his father, he would stare straight into his eyes.

The metal gate of the elevator slammed open and all the people that he righteously hated stepped before him. Tai Lung fearlessly growled as a warning and Commander Vachir struck him across the face with the end of his spear. Thick red blood streaked down his grey fur and the prisoner sneered as he heard his father shout, "That's not needed Commander Vachir."

Indescribable amount of rage and hurt controlled him while he bared his sharp fangs against Master Shifu. However he did feel a twinge of guilt when he noticed his father slowly limp towards him with a bamboo cane. Vachir sneered and spat, "He's a belligerent beast."

The red panda seemed equally offended by the remark as Tai Lung, but to his surprise, Shifu stiffly ordered, "Let me be with my son."

All of the rhinos were about to flatly reject his demand, but the stern stare from the honourable Kung Fu Master made them slowly lower their heads and back away from them. Meanwhile Vachir said, "That will be fine, but we'll have all of our crossbows at the ready."

Before Tai Lung knew it, he was left alone with his father who calmly sat in front of him with a blank stare. Shifu sat only an inch away from him and from within, he felt a whirl of emotions and he had no idea where to begin...

I'm so mad and bitter... because you abandoned me when I needed you most...

I'm so damn ashamed... because I hurt and failed you, my father whom I looked up to through my whole life...

I'm so hurt and lost... because I lost you...

I'm so scared... because I don't know what to think anymore...

I don't belong here... I belong with your and Tigress at Jade Palace...

I want to ask for your forgiveness, but I also need your apology...

Otherwise we have no right to sit in front of each other and say that we're family. I'm broken.

For once Tai Lung felt like a little, lost cub as Shifu silently touched the fresh wound... but at the same time he rejected the gentle touch because there was far too much hostility inside him still. The emotional wound was just as fresh as the bleeding wound and it seemed like Shifu felt and understood the pain as well.

It was far too early to talk about what had occurred between them. So Tai Lung whispered a question that bothered him the most, "Why hasn't Tigress visited me?"

Shifu sighed and stoically replied, "She was never to have visited you in the first place. Tigress never told anyone that she was going to see you either, but that was because Master Oogway and I forbade her to go and see you."

Undoubtedly furious by the response, Tai Lung roared louder than he has ever been, "Why?! What wrong did SHE do? Why do you two deny me of everything?! Wh-"

The red panda sighed again and confessed, "I was also sternly advised to not to see you ever again by Master Oogway and I intended to follow my master's order, but I know that Tigress is suffering greatly. She always puts up a brave front and never allows to see her in a weak state, but at night, she weeps and in the morning, her eyes are swollen from tears."

The hardened warrior and prisoner could feel his own heart breaking at this devastating news. The hatred completely rolled off his back because he never wanted Tigress to cry for him... or for anything. He didn't want her to be saddened by the world and yet she was crying every night that they were apart. Tai Lung could only keep his head down as Shifu continued to speak.

His father stated, "I know she's taken great length to write some letters for you in secret. According to Zeng, she's been begging him to mail each of her letters to you."

A deep frown creased his forehead... he's never received any mail from anybody. Then Shifu cleared his confusion as he explained, "And Zeng would give her letters to me. I came to personally deliver them to you because she seems to be depressed because you aren't replying back to any of her letters."

Angered by her pain, he snapped, "I didn't send one because I never got one thanks to your interference."

Then his former Kung Fu Master coldly said, "And I would have continued to do so if it weren't for Tigress so don't you dare mistake this as a sign of my forgiveness."

Tai Lung was shocked by the sheer number of the letters that Tigress wrote for him. By the size of the box that neatly contained the filed letters, he could estimate that she wrote at least twice a week. If it weren't for all of the chains, he would have immediately torn the letters one by one and absorb each words she wrote for his sake.

Shifu relaxed and said, "You can read them."

His father cut open the first letter and pushed it across the dirty floor towards him. A small smile began to form because he suddenly felt like he could hear her soft voice just from reading the letter:

Dear Tai Lung,

I got caught for visiting you last time... apparently rhinos don't get happy when they get their asses whooped by a girl.

Tai Lung softly laughed at the first line as he briefly remembered that memory.

They wrote a letter to Master Oogway and Master Shifu, informing them that I went to see you when I wasn't supposed to.

Tai Lung felt his fur stand and his muscles stiffen just by reading the ancient tortoise's name.

You might get mad that I'm mentioning them right now, but I think Master Shifu is broken hearted. He's distant to everyone and he's often arguing with Master Oogway.

He briefly glanced at his father and wondered if her claims were true. He wondered if his father shared the same emotional pain.

Tai Lung, I know you're lost and furious right now... but I know what kind of a leopard you are. I trust you enough that you'll find your path again. I believe in you and please know that I'm always thinking about you. Nothing is the same anymore, Jade Palace doesn't feel like home without you. I miss you... and I love you.

With love,

Tigress

Tai Lung tried to keep his voice choked, but small whimpers escaped and tears stained his bruised face and the blood soaked dirt. Broken bones, cuts, even the Chorh-Gom Prison failed to break him down to tears, but Tigress's gentleness and the sheer fact that she still had him in her thoughts and heart was a phenomenal relief and pure happiness. And her words: I love you made him reaffirm how much he loved her too.

For the first time, Tai Lung allowed him to express all the emotions he felt as his body shook, his shoulder trembled, and he loudly wept hot tears.

You know I seriously didn't realize how many people prescribed to this story. Sorry to keep you guys waiting and thank you for your patience :D

I hope you enjoyed this chapter; it showed Tai Lung's blur of internal turmoil. It's a bit emotional. Thank you for the last reviews and I can't wait to hear from you guys again!

Thanks for reading. - Itachi Black

A quick reminder to my readers that this story will be moved into M later on.