A/N: Do not fear the chapter title.
Chapter Two- Suicide
That night, everyone but Tigress went to bed. The next morning, they found her still kneeling by Shifu's bed, her lips moving in silent prayers. The others knew better than to lead her away from Shifu, so they just left for breakfast.
"I've never seen Tigress so upset." Viper said. "And I've known her almost my entire life."
"We all have." Mantis reminded her. "Except Po."
"Whatever." Po muttered.
"Po, you do realize that what Tigress said was wrong?" Monkey said.
"We would never blame you for what happened." Crane said.
"It's just the fact of life." Mantis said. "Tai Lung was driven mad by rage and power and Shifu couldn't handle it."
"Who knows what happened." Viper said. "None of us were there."
"Exactly." Po said, serving his noodle soup to the others. "That's why it is my fault." Po stalked out of the room.
"Po, aren't you having breakfast?" Viper called.
"Not hungry." Po shouted.
"Poor guy." Monkey said.
"Yeah." Viper said. They all ate, but even Po's famous soup couldn't bring them out of their misery. After eating they left for the Training Hall. Po was already there, punching the heck out of the Adversary.
"Stupid Tigress." He muttered. "Stupid palace. Stupid life." The others shook their heads. They winced when Po hit the Adversary in the wrong place and it slammed into his face.
"STUPID ADVERSARY!" Po yelled, kicking it. He growled and stomped off.
"Po?" Crane asked.
"I'm in a bad mood!" Po yelled at him. He continued on.
"Poor guy." Monkey said again.
"Come on." Viper said, slithered out of the hall. "We have work to do."
"Training?" Mantis asked.
"No." Viper said. "Making a shrine for Shifu." They nodded and followed. The four of them went to the kitchen to plan.
"Alright." Viper said. "Crane, you do the picture. Mantis, see if you can find his flute; that would fit perfectly. Monkey, you and I will clean up the sacred hall."
"And Tigress?" Monkey asked.
"Try not to anger her." Viper said. They nodded and went to work.
*****
Meanwhile, at the Sacred Peach Tree, Po sulked.
"Shifu." He whispered. "I need you here. I'm confused and hurt. I can't figure out anything. Tigress is furious with me. The rest of the Five probably hate me again. What can I do?" The only response was a soft wind. Po sighed.
"Of course you won't answer me." Po said. "You can't hear me. You might not want to hear me. So you ignore me." The wind blew again, and Po scowled. "I'm sorry. I should've come sooner. I should've done something that would've saved your life. Forgive me." Again, only wind. Po growled. "You won't listen. You can't hear me. I don't know which." Po stood up. "But if you won't hear me now, maybe you will later." Po walked off.
*****
"It's perfect." Viper said.
She, Crane, Mantis, and Monkey stared happily at the shrine. The rest of the hall was fixed except for some cracks and damaged pillars, but they would worry about that later. Also the holes in the roof.
Shifu's shrine was as great as Master Oogway's. The picture was him in a battle stance, holding his flute as a weapon and giving a little smirk of triumph. Around the border were the Chinese characters for "Brave" and "Strong" and "Wise" and many other things. On a stand below it was Shifu's bamboo flute. Viper had noted first-hand that it would most likely stay there, gathering dust.
"Come on." Crane said. "We'll train for the rest of the day."
"It's what he would've wanted." Mantis said. They left, but Viper took one last glance at the shrine. The sun shined thru one of the roof's holes and cast a golden glow on the shrine. Viper smiled; she'd convince the guys easily to let that hole stay.
But something was weird. Viper felt a soft wind, and a whisper. She tried hard to listen, but she only caught a little of it. Something about another death. Viper bit her lip; she had lost her master, she didn't want to lose anyone else. So she warned the others.
"We'll keep a sharp eye out." Monkey assured. Viper seemed satisfied, but the whisper haunted her.
*****
That night, Viper had a nightmare.
She slithered about the palace. The Jade Palace itself was dark and depressing. Viper continued on until a voice told her to go into the training hall. Viper obeyed, but screamed in fear.
Po was on the ground, a knife in his heart. His eyes were still open.
Viper woke up screaming. She panted, then went back to sleep.
She woke up again after a shadow passed her door.
Po snuck quietly away from the bunkhouse to the kitchen. Full permission to call him an idiot for grabbing a long and sharp knife. Po sighed. If this would help him see Shifu, he's willing to do it. Po tried to choose the right place.
The bunkhouse was too obvious. Someone would hear him. Same for the bathhouse and if he stayed in the kitchen. He knew it would be sinful to spill blood on the peach tree grounds. Po finally decided on the Training Hall, thinking it would be perfect and no one would find him. Po sneaked off to the hall. He glanced around it one last time. Po actually chuckled when he remembered his first day here. Man, was he a klutz. Po smiled and made a goofy face at the Adversary.
"Ooh, the big bad Adversary!" Po giggled. "I'm terrified!" Po laughed, but he dropped the knife. That's when he remembered why he was here. Po sighed and gave the Adversary one last little punch. He picked the knife up and looked down. He walked to a corner and sat down, staring at the knife that glinted in his hand wickedly.
"I'll be there soon, master." Po whispered. "Then you'll forgive me."
A/N: I know, short. But I wanted suspense. DON'T KILL ME OR FREAK OUT! It's all part of the plan. Review!