AN: It looks like most of the players are finally in place. Onward!
Renkon Nairu: Ha ha, yes Ruiling is definitely going to be annoying!
Chapter Four: What Wasn't Noticed
No one paid any attention to the last few stragglers to come through the gates. After all, what would be the point? They weren't surrounded by bodyguards. None among them were dressed up and the dingy enclosed handtruck they had difficulty manuevering through the broken streets was as eye-catching as any old pebble lying in the road.
The small party had edged into the village while everyone was distracted with the arrival of the great lord's two oldest. It wasn't that hard to do, at all. And the leader of the group reflected that the fact that her overly-aggressive brother and her prima donna sister were making spectacles of themselves was distraction enough for the entire village.
And speaking of which, it had obviously been through a lot. Holes had been blown in the streets, buildings had been toppled, and the thick dust that came with demolition and construction hung heavily in the air. It was still their village, though. Recognizable even under the grime.
She'd slipped along cautiously behind the large processions that led up to the Jade Palace seemlessly, having only a couple of helpers with her. They easily passed cursory inspection by the now disillusioned and disgruntled townsfolk as stragglers bringing in more of Lady Ruiling's luggage, led by a short servant wearing a threadbare hooded cloak. Not unusual, considering the circumstances. One pig was even heard to comment that he'd hide his face with shame too, if he worked for that stuck up fox.
So their little group had passed without escort, inquiry, or even a second glance through the small village at the heart of the Valley of Peace. Up the long flight of stairs they trudged, falling farther and farther behind as the leader wondered if there had always been so many of the damned things and the servants struggled with their load. Under the best of conditions, the massive stone steps would have been difficult to manage. Today, with huge chunks taken out of them, they were almost impossible to get the wheeled cart up.
Finally they gained the top, and as they caught their breath, she assured them that it would be fine for them to return to their homes. Paying them each a few gold coins for their trouble and discretion, she bade them farewell. She and her father had finally come home.
The raccoon dog edged closer to the large double doors, peeking in at the scene unfolding inside. How typical, Ruiling was sobbing about the loss of some of the priceless junk that had littered the hall for ages. The fox had a voice like a great, mythical beast...
"I thought we left you and Oogway to PROTECT the Jade Palace, Shifu!"
...if said beast was in its' final, violent death throes.
Shifu glowered levelly at Ruiling, refusing to be impressed. "You will notice, Lady Ruiling, the palace IS still standing."
"Partially!"
The fox dabbed daintily at her eyes with her silken sleeve, and Shifu noticed that her overwrought makeup did not even smudge. Her eyes were perfectly dry. The red panda's evaluating gaze turned into a squint. He had inner peace, not infinite patience.
"Master Oogway foresaw that disaster would befall the Jade Palace. That sorrow would come to its' doorstep and visit woe upon those who lived here. Your father trusted his judgement and saw to it that none of you was here to be blighted by it." The small kung fu master suppressed a slight flinch at the memory.
The visitor spying from the doorway noticed the odd look that touched Shifu's eyes, but wondered if it was a reaction to being in close proximity to her sister's copious perfume. She mentally shrugged and looked for her other sibling. There. She smiled at the sight of what was unmistakably her brother and his famous attitude. Shifu turned, and pointed what appeared to be a length of bamboo at the darker bear.
"And similarly, Lord Guiren, your father entrusted the remainder of his army to Master Oogway's direction." The sun bear leaned over the much shorter individual and gave Shifu a glare that would have sent most scurrying for the hills. Shifu's ears flicked back, and he lowered his voice to a soft growl. "I will not discuss where it is or why it is there. That is a concern for our lord, not for his children."
Guiren's answer verged on the unintelligible, at least for the woman listening from the doorway. She couldn't be certain, but it certainly sounded as though her esteemed older brother Guiren was enraged that the massive army their father had maintained was off at a single prison, which was apparently without even a single prisoner. How bizarre. But what else could one expect from a conspicuously odd person like Master Oogway.
The raccoon dog glanced around the entry hall, with it's ornately carved columns, several made of solid jade that gave the palace it's namesake, and its' small reflecting pool. Even here, battle damage was obvious. Her attention was drawn as the sound of the excalating shouting match grew fainter, and she realized belatedly that the party had up and left without her. Her brother and sister had apparently stormed off to evaluate what further detruction or salvage could be had from their old home.
The single figure that was left caused her eyes to widen in surprise, however. Shifu stood in the center of the hall, regarding the cloaked figure closely. "You arrived far too late to have been part of the entourage for Lord Guiren or Lady Ruiling.." his bright blue eyes narrowed dangerously, and he cautiously moved into a ready stance. "Who are you, and what is your business here?"
It was Shifu's turn to recoil in surprise when she pushed back her hood, however. "I have business here as the youngest daughter of Morimotsuhitu, lord of the Valley of Peace," she responded, favoring the red panda with a smile that she hoped was only partially patronizing. It was just so GOOD to see her one-time adversary again. Shifu had always been so fun to torment when she was young and he was.. well.. younger, at least.
The old kung fu master cautiously approached her, still with a look of shock seizing his face. "Tao-hua? Can that really be you?"
She pulled the heavy, dust-encrusted cloak off of her shoulders, shaking it off gently before folding it and setting it aside. "We received the message several days ago, when the nightengale arrived. I feared that we would be far too late, but it seems that our timing is quite good.. wouldn't you say, Shifu?"
Shifu's startled expression sulked back into a guarded frown, and his large ears twitched as he glanced around the hall. "Where is Lord Morimotsuhitu, he did arrive with you, did he not?" Tao smiled more genuinely then, turning back towards the enclosed cart. "Of course he did. Do you honestly think I would leave without father?"
Shifu looked considerably relieved, watching the youngest daughter duck inside the carriage. He could hear her whisper something, and assumed that the by now aged warlord had fallen asleep on his long journey home. The poor old man must have been horribly cramped inside of that thing, he couldn't help but think.
He was badly startled when Tao-hua turned back around, holding an intricately painted urn tightly. Her eyes seemed distant, and were not focused on him as she spoke. "You see, Father? I told you that we would return home safely if I came with you."
Shifu darted forward quickly, even with his bad leg, and reverently touched the urn. "How long ago?" he asked, feeling quite ill at ease. Tao's eyes cleared, and she seemed surprised to see him suddenly so close. "Three years ago, roughly. He just... got old. Too old, and too tired. He didn't wake up one morning when I brought him his tea."
She cleared her throat a little before continuing. "He often spoke of wanting to come back here to be..." Tao's voice broke, and she concentrated on not crying. "He wanted to be here. This is the only place he ever wanted to be. And Oogway-"
"Oogway is gone, also."
Tao-hua's righteous indignation fled her like dragonflies before a rainstorm. "Oh. So.. that's it then." She paced briskly past Shifu, stopping to set the large urn she carried on the raised dias that surrounded the Dragon's Pearl Pool. She bowed, and whispered a promise for some incense before returning her gaze to the red panda. Her eyes clearly demanded "Now what?"
Shifu sighed, straightening the collar of his robe. "This is most unfortunate.. we had hoped to restore the Jade Palace to your father. Instead it seems we will be dividing up his estate. I will consult Master Oogway's journals. An eventuality like this must have been planned for."
Tao-hua nodded, and pointed to her cart. "There are many of father's papers among his possessions. Take whatever you need." With that, the tanunki turned and marched from the hallway solumnly. Shifu shook his head sadly as he bowed to the urn containing the ashes of the former master of the Jade Palace. Things had just become much more difficult.