An angel in disguise
Chapter 6
The group was happy. Even though it was in the middle of the night they were all wide awake. Except for Po and Tigress ofcourse. Somehow with their old friend returning they could forget about what was to come tomorow. They could set things aside and feel happy in the darkest of hours. That was what Jin could always do. Make everyone happy. And that is probably the reason why they accepted Po so fast. He can do the same as Jin.
When the fact that Jin was back settled among the five in the hall, Jin spoke gently "Hey guys. You can go back to sleep. I would like to look around a little. It seems that so much has changed since i left."
"Ofcourse Jin. You may sleep in Po's room afterwards. I have a feeling he won't need it tonight." Shifu said in a calm voice.
"Thank you… Master." Jin said happily that he finally had his family back.
The five went back to their rooms and Jin walked out of the barracks slowly, remembering how things used to be before he was banished from the Valley. He went to the kitchen while walking down memory lane, he thought to himself 'Well the kitchen looks the same, though the smell is much les tofu-ey'. Jin chuckled at the thought that 10 years ago all they ate was stinky tofu.
Oh how he enjoyed the company of his friends all those years ago. When they were all young and foolish, the only thing on their mind was playing. None except Tigress wanted to train all the time. So he and Monkey sometimes sneaked out of the training hall down to the Valley so they could play pranks on unsuspecting villagers. Little did they know, that one little prank led up to a riot. The whole Valley of Peace was after the two, they were chased out of the village to the palace gates. The riot was noticed by Master Shifu. When he came outside to see what was the matter, he saw brutallity – Monkey was laying on the floor behind Jin, he was uncocious and badly wounded, the only thing keeping the villagers from hurting him anymore was Jin. The young, playfull Tiger cub stood between him and the rest of the village. Taking the beating for both of them. He had several broken bones, deep gashes that would eventually leave scars but he did not falter in the face of hardship and pain. His eyes reflecting determination to protect his friend from this brutal punishment. He did not fight back, for hurting the innocent was something he was tought to fght against. So the tiger cub simply stood there while the valley lashed at him, beat him down and tried to break his spirit. After every swing Jin stood back up, but he could not keep this up for much longer. By now he was bloody and hurting all over. But then a mad villager threw a piece of broken porcelain at the cub. Jin was too hurt to avoid it so he simply accepted the sharp pain as the broken shard lodged itself in his stomach area. As soon as this happened Shifu jumped in front of Jin and yelled at the villagers to stop this. That it is madness. Little did he know that the one who orchestrated this riot was no other than the demented peacock Shanxi. For you see, like Shen he had a fortune teller, a soothsayer if you will. And she preditced that Five warriors would cross his path. Warriors in training from the Jade Palace. Yet they were still young. So the peacock set out to rid himself of these so called warriors. When he arrived at the valley, he brought with him a bunch of madmen. Madmen that were skilled in one thing only. To start and lead a riot.
Jin clutched his stomach, the scar that was left by the shard was there to remind him of his troubled past. He walked outside towards the only place he ever found any comfort. The Sacred Tree of Heavenly Wisdom. He slowly ascended the steps taking in the cold night air. When he reached the top he stood under the tree with closed eyes. Jin smiled as a cold breeze blew across his form, rustling his hair in the process. He wanted to walk around the tree but as soon as he took his first step he stepped on Tigress' tail. The tiger yelped in pain and surprise, waking up Po. The panda darted up and without missing a beat punched the green dragon in the face sending him into the tree.
Tigress got up and they both got into their fighting stances, not knowing who was leaning againt the tree.
"OUCH! DAMN THAT HURTS!" Jin yelled to himself. When he looked up he saw an angry tiger and a really really confused panda.
"Who are you and how dare you tresspass in the palace grounds?" Tigress yelled at him full of rage.
Jin unknowingly put on a stupid grin. A grin that somehow reminded Tigress that she had forgotten something important. A friend. NO. He was gone. Tigress couldn't bare to think about Jin again. Not after he had left her heart in pieces when he was banished.
"Sis?" Jin asked slowly with a childish voice. The next thing he knew was that he was lying on the floor and a very VERY angry tiger was kneeling above him.
"I repeat. WHO ARE YOU?" She yelled.
"What don't tell me you can't remember your best friend. Have 10 years really been so long." Jin said the same grin still on his face.
"10 years? Tigress what is he talking about?" Po asked as he looked at the two.
"No. No you can't be him. HE'S GONE!" Tigress was now standing next to Po tears falling freely from her eyes.
"And now he's home." Jin said softly, getting up and walking towards them.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Tigress lashed out at Jin. He stood there frozen in his steps.
"I-I thought you'd be happy… Knowing that i'm alive." He said in a hurt tone.
"How can i be happy. I tell you that i love you and what do you do? You leave me. FOR 10 YEARS!" Tigress hugged Po and sobbed in his fur matting it with salty tears.
Jin sighed deeply. As much as he wanted to come back home, he dreaded the day he would have to explain things to Tigress.
"Tigress I'm sorry. I truly am. But I loved Viper. I still do… Please forgive me" He whispered the last part so that only she could hear it.
Jin turned around and started walking to the palace. He froze in his tracks again when he was held in a strong embrace.
"Welcome home…. Brother." Tigress managed to choke out between her sobs. Po slowly walked to the two and hugged Tigress close letting her know she is never alone. That he will never leave her.
Jin simply smiled and returned to his temporary room for the night.
The next morning
Master Shifu arrived at the barracks' hall right when the gong rang. 3 doors opened and their respective owners came into the hall.
"Good morning Master" Monkey, Mantis and Crane said in unison. The hall remained silent.
Shifu just sighed as more and more of his students started sleeping in. What was weird today though was the fact that Master Viper was among those. He walked to her door and knocked lightly.
"Master Viper the gong already rang. Please wake up and join the others outside." Shifu demanded.
There was no reply. Shifu was baffled by what could have kept the snake so busy. He opened her door only to see an empty room. He proceeded to Po's room where Jin was supposed to be sleeping tonight. When he opened the door the room was also empty. His ears twitched when he heard two familiar voices outside. He did not bother looking for the tiger and panda since they slept outside.
When Master Shifu arrived in the courtyard he listened to where the voices were coming from. When he looked to the rooftop he saw the snake and the dragon chatting together.
"Come Viper. The gong rang let's go meet the others." Jin suggested, Viper nodded in agreement and curled herself around him and gave him a loving kiss. Master Shifu mentally smiled at this but remained calm on the outside. He went to the kitchen to wait for the others.
When they all gathered there the first thing they wanted to know was how Jin got to be a dragon.
"Well. Let's just say that i wasn't supposed to die just yet. So the gods threw me out and gave me a new body since the one before was completely ruined." Jin laughed at his little joke, accompanied only by Mantis.
"What do you mean ruined? What happened?" Viper asked showing concern for the dragon.
Jin looked at the floor and sighed "I refused. I didn't want to give up. I fought against Shen. But I was outnumbered. When they captured me, they beat me half to death and then used me for target practise." Everyone was angry when they heard just how crazy the peacock was.
"But hey I'm still alive right? And i got a job as a warrior." Jin said trying to lift their spirits.
"Oh who do you fight for?" Monkey asked as curiosity got the better of him.
"Shanxi's army" Jin said proudly. But instead of eveyone being happy they had serious faces, Po and Tigress felt betrayed. A friend working for the enemy.
"I even got some orders before i left on vacation. But i didn't open them yet. I wanted to see my home first." Jin smiled.
The rest looked at Shifu. "Jin would you be so kind to open the scroll and read your orders?" Shifu said in a stern voice.
Jin noded and took out a simple scrool with the same seal as the one that sentenced Tigress and Po to death. He broke the seal and read the scroll out loud.
General Jin
You have not proven your worth yet. So these orders shall be your test. I know you plan on visiting the Jade Palace and know this: if you value your life and the lives of your subordinates you will do as i request of you. When you arrive you must…
The rest was imposible to hear as Jin went silent. His hands we're definetly shaking as a few tears made their ways down his muzzle, staining the scroll. He threw the god forsaken thing across the room and stood up. When he tried to back away from the table he tripped over the chair and fell with a loud thud. Before anyone could react he darted out of the kitchen and left the door wide open.
Nobody spoke as they went towards the scroll and read the last part.
When you arrive you must kill the one who means to you the most. You must kill Master Viper. Otherwise the lives of your men will be extinguished like a flame of a candle.
They stood in the kitchen, the silence was killing them yet no one had the courage to speak. The demented peacock had delivered yet another blow. And he was suceeding at destroying them from the inside out.
With Jin
He kept running, the sky had darkened and rain started falling from the clouds drenching the world. When he reached the peach tree, he was a mess, for the second time in his life, he felt unable to do anyhitng, he felt as if the world was crashing down on him. It would not be a hard choice if he did not know the men that he commanded. From the moment he got to know them he knew that they were not killers. They were just simple people who tried to feed their families. And now he had to decide whether to let them die or to kill a part of himself. To kill a person that he longed to see for 10 years. The person that never stopped loving him even after they were separated for so long.
His world was falling apart. The only way he found comfort in these past 10 years was in song. It was the only thing that kept him from breaking down. But he wasn't sure that it will help him now. Yet he had to try. The rain started pouring down from the heavens almost as if the gods were feeling his pain right now. He looked up into the sky rain drenching him to the bone.
With every appearance by you, blinding my eyes,
I can hardly remember the last time I felt like I do.
You're an angel disguised.
And you're lying real still,
but your heart beat is fast just like mine.
And the movie's long over,
that's three that have passed, one more's fine.
Will you stay awake for me?
I don't wanna miss anything
I don't wanna miss anything
I will share the air I breathe,
I'll give you my heart on a string,
I just don't wanna miss anything.
His heart felt like daggers were piercing it. As his voice echoed in the rain, a snake made her way up to the tree.
I'm trying real hard not to shake. I'm biting my tongue,
but I'm feeling alive and with every breath that I take,
I feel like I've won. You're my key to survival.
And if it's a hero you want,
I can save you. Just stay here.
Your whispers are priceless.
Your breath, it is dear. So please stay near.
Will you stay awake for me?
I don't wanna miss anything
I don't wanna miss anything
I will share the air I breathe,
I'll give you my heart on a string,
I just don't wanna miss anything.
Say my name. I just want to hear you.
Say my name. So I know it's true.
You're changing me. You're changing me.
You showed me how to live.
So just say. So just say,
That you'll stay awake for me.
I don't wanna miss anything.
I don't wanna miss anything.
I will share the air I breathe,
I'll give you my heart on a string,
I just don't wanna miss anything.
He slumped down against the tree and cried with the rain. Viper slowly slithered her way behind him. She did not know what to say so she simply coiled herself around him and hugged him close.
"Please forgive me…" was the only thing than Jin managed to choke out.
"There is nothing to forgive" Viper said smiling at him. She leaned in and kissed him gently. Jin didn't make any attempt to refuse and melted into the kiss, lifting a burden that he alone was meant to bare.