New chapter finally up! 3 people reviewed.

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Chapter 5

I was staring with disbelief at my parents' bodies, in my own home. I couldn't even cry, as I was far too shocked. I couldn't think straight, and had no reaction as I saw two dark figures coming towards me. I felt myself being carried away but it was impossible to do anything. I was still looking towards the bodies of my family...

And once again, I woke up in a rush, trying to breathe normally and to calm down. I hoped I had not woken up anyone. Then I remembered I was still recovering, so I forced myself back to the bed. I wanted to get back to training as soon as possible, but for this I needed to rest first. There was already a little light coming from outside. What should I do when the gong rings? Should I stay here to rest more, or should I get up anyway? After thinking for a few moments, I decided that would get up because I didn't want to spend my day alone. So I sat on the side of the bed, put on my vest – by the way, useless detail, it's coloured in deep blue – and waited for the gong's sound to come.

As I heard it, I managed to get up and got out in the corridor slightly after the others. Fortunately my legs were not the part hit by the arrow, which would have been much more bothering. We greeted Shifu just as every morning. The guys were actually quite surprised that I was up. I stared at them with a look that said 'Oh come on, it's not that bad!' In fact, even though it still hurt a little, Shifu had done good work with my wound; it could have been much worse. We all got to the kitchen to get breakfast before going to training. Shifu entered the room swiftly and said, looking at me, "Judging on your wound, I think it would be wise not to train for... let's say... at least today."

He wore this serious look on his face, the one he always has. I nodded and replied, "I agree with you Master. Although I think one day without training will probably be enough to recover enough." Soon after, he left the place. Suddenly I noticed that nobody had talked yet. I didn't expect to say much anyway, because I don't really know them that well after just a few days here, but I guess yesterday's battle probably gained me a bit of respect. While eating, they started talking a little; very few about our last battle actually. I can only assume it's because they have known lots of others throughout the years. I stayed silent for most of the time except when Viper asked me how I was after getting shot yesterday. I answered simply by saying it was actually a lot better, and that Shifu sure knew how to treat these wounds. She smiled and said that I had done things right back in the fight. The others seemed to agree.

After a short while, they headed to the Training Hall. I went there too, even though I would not train today. I had nothing else to do anyway. They started just as every day, and Shifu, who had come in to teach a few things, soon left the Hall. Surprisingly, I saw Crane stop training and come towards the place where I was sitting. He sat beside me and said, "We figured we wouldn't let you alone after what you did for us yesterday."

I smiled a little and said, "Any of you would have done it too if you had been in my place, as I already said." Crane continued, "Maybe we would have, but you've been here for only three days and you already showed us that we can trust you. Something tells me – and I'd say tells us – that in the near future you will be a good ally and friend."

Now I didn't expect that, but maybe I should have. After all, I saved the life of one of them, and it's true that I've not been in the Jade Palace for long. Anyway, it was good to know that I gained their trust. I told him, "Thank you. You know, it's good to know that people see me as a friend. I mean, I haven't really spoken with anyone in many years."

After a few moments of silence, I said: "So, if I'm going to stay I guess I should get to know you guys a little better. Mind talking about your past a little?" He looked at me and said, "Ok. It starts like this..." He told me about his first attempt at entering a kung fu academy. As he was judged too skinny for training, he had no choice but to do something else, so he became the janitor of the place. One day, the academy organized a contest to see who could integrate the school, so he was told to make the place good-looking, to prepare it for the event. As he was doing his job, a young girl Mei Ling named was watching and was impressed by his precision and movements. She told him that he should try the contest.

On the next day, he was ridiculed again when he tried to enter the contest. But he accidentally stepped into the obstacle course; and when he could turn around and get out, he didn't. He continued to go through the obstacles, and easily ended it. He had finally gained the others' respect. A few weeks later, he was approached by Master Oogway and joined the Jade Palace. As he finished his story, he didn't ask for my own, and I was grateful for that. He soon got back to training, and Mantis took his place. Same thing over again, I learnt about him and how he joined the place. And again, he did not ask for my story. They probably all thought I was only some artist for all my life.

They couldn't possibly know there was another side to the story.

Throughout the day, each of them took a pause not to leave me alone. Except Tigress, who didn't stop training. She probably had an interesting story as well, because I know for a fact that people don't get so silent just like that. But if she does not want to speak about it, that's okay. I mean, who am I to judge? I didn't even tell them about myself! I mentally slapped myself for not doing so.

At the end of the day, we left the Training Hall and got to the kitchen. It was quite silent tonight, so I didn't take part in any of the few conversations. I didn't feel like going to sleep right now, there was still a bit of light outside. Oh, and does it ever rain in here? Every single day is a sunny day since I'm here. So I got out and went to the same tree as two days ago. I didn't plan on playing music tonight, I just wanted to admire the sunset and find a peaceful place. I sat and looked toward the horizon. This was so relaxing... I closed my eyes for a while. This was not meditation, though I was not thinking about anything. I was concentrated on my sensations. The wind, the smells, the light noise coming from the valley... Everything. And someone was coming behind me. I couldn't tell who it was, but it couldn't be Viper, Mantis or Crane. The sound of the steps was different from theirs. It could be Shifu, Tigress, Monkey or Oogway. Soon the presence was next to me. I could hear the breath. I heard the person sitting down. Whoever it was, was being very silent, probably looking for as much peace as me. I finally decided to open my eyes. Surprisingly, it was Tigress; I surely didn't expect that...

I finally spoke, "Good evening... What brings you here?" She answered, "I thought I had to apologize for being quite cold these last days." Was she serious? "You don't need to. You surely had some reason for it. Moreover, it's normal not to be so open to strangers. There are people we just can't trust at first."

Still looking at the horizon, she said "You're right, I do have a reason." I smiled a little. "Care to explain?"

"If you ask so. I'll have to tell a longer story though; it's linked to my past." Looks like I'll have all of their stories in the end... "Go ahead."

"So, you see Shifu? He's my father; my adoptive father. As a child I lived in the Bao Gu orphanage. The other children feared me because of my strength. I was cast aside. But then Shifu saw my potential and taught me how to control this strength. I learned well enough and he took me to the Jade Palace. I've been training every single day since then; but Shifu was never really happy, never really proud... So I figured out there was something that would make him proud..."

She paused. "I trained even harder... in order to show that I'm worthy enough to be chosen, become the Dragon Warrior and get the Dragon Scroll." I asked, "Excuse me, but what is the Dragon Scroll?"

"It is said to be the secret of limitless power. And that is the reason why I was quite cold to you. As I saw you had some skills, I thought you would be another contestant to this title." Oh, now I understood. "I see... So I have to say that it was never my goal."

She looked at me and said softly, "Yes, I understand it now, and I have to thank you for what you've done for me."

After this we just sat there for a moment. We were not speaking but Tigress started, "Now, you know about us all... But we don't know much about you. Would you talk about yourself now?" The question I absolutely didn't want to hear. A pained expression formed involuntarily on my face. Seeing this, she added "If you don't want to, then don't tell."

"No, it's alright. I knew I'd have to talk about it someday. And it's better now than never, isn't it?" I took a deep breath and started, "I was born in the Shanxi province, which is quite a long way from here. Everything was alright there: my parents were caring, I had friends... Everything a child would wish to have."

"As I grew up, I learnt to play music and we soon discovered it was a talent for me. Different people taught me how to play many instruments, the ones I carry with me. Apart from this, my parents also knew an old kung fu master who was no longer teaching in an academy. He accepted to teach me for a few years. Although it was not intensive training, I guess it was okay."

"One day, when I was a teenager, I went to play in another village for the afternoon. As almost always, it had been a success. I was happy!" I paused. And my voice started shaking a little. "But when I came back home... things were not the same. There was no one outside, and for some reason it scared me. I got to my family's home, pushed the door and entered. I shouldn't have."

"My parents... were lying on the ground. Their throats had been slit open. The house looked like it had been raided. I couldn't stop watching as I got carried away by three people. They were responsible for it, I knew it, but I couldn't do anything. They took me to a hidden place. There, they gave me this mark so that they would find me if I escaped." I showed her my right paw, where a circle and a cross were like engraved in my flesh.

"They kept me behind bars, just as if I were in jail. I don't know why they didn't kill me like they did with the people from my village. They came back to this hiding place every night, probably after their raids on other places... But one night they didn't come back. I waited for a few more hours, but they had probably been caught. They'd never say where they had stashed the things they stole, which means I was on my own. I started to hit the metal bars. Luckily one of them wasn't as solid as the others. I managed to remove it, and I was free. But what is freedom if I have nothing to do with my life?"

"I went back home. The bodies had been removed. I everything I had left, which means, my instruments, and left. I didn't know what I was going to do. So I just wandered alone, for years... You know the rest."

Tigress looked at me and simply said, "I understand why you didn't want to talk about it. But now you have a new home, don't you think?"

I smiled at her and thanked her for listening to this long story of mine. There, I had done it. I had talked about it all. The sun had finally disappeared, so we went back to the barracks and went to sleep.