More bonding with Musaki and Manny as Musaki takes Manny to his birth home...his parents' cave.
Chapter 10: Famliy Helping Family
Over the next couple of days until the funeral, Musaki has been able to spend more time with Manny, just getting to know each other and maybe learn a few things from each other while the rest of the Bushido-Akio clan sets up the funeral for Manny's parents. Manny was still grieving over the loss and still felt like it just happened, but he felt a sense of comfort when he's around Musaki and assures him that everything will be better and that there's gonna be life after all of this.
At the same time, Musaki then takes Manny to somewhere that will be completely most memorable; his first home. They go through the forests until they reached a secluded place and as they made their way down, they see a waterfall near the cave and the look on Manny's eyes were completely widened as he witnessed something really awesome. He asked, "What's this?"
Musaki lets out a small chuckle and he replied, "This is my old home. It's pretty much where I started off in the first three years of my life...all before I lived in the Jade Palace."
Manny walked slowly behind him, taking in every sight of this place as if it was really special and somewhat perfect. The waterfall definitely became a huge surprise from him because it's near a cave and when he sees Musaki enter the cave, he walked in as well. Once inside, everything's the same was as it was left nearly 14 years ago.
"I gotta say...this is really impressive." Manny added.
Musaki looked at Manny for a second and smiled at him about embracing his own origins and he replied, "Thanks. It's not much, but we had each other. It's been untouched after my parents died and I was in the orphanage. I got to see where I almost grew up and each time I visit Shanghai Secluded Valley, I always come here for some peace and just to reminisce."
Manny took a look at some artwork on the cavern walls that a young Musaki left and he sees a paw print on the center of it and he pretty much figured that it was something that was special to him. Suddenly, he sees a mark on the front of his paw pad and it was a Japanese symbol for something that was completely remarkable.
Musaki could tell that Manny's looking at the paint of his paw pad and looking at the mark on his hand and he said, "My dad made that mark in my hand when I was younger."
Manny then took a look at it and he finally sees it for the first time and he said, "What is the mark?'
"It's Kibou."
Manny stared at Musaki with a huge confused look on his face as if he was talking in gibberish and he asked, "What?"
"Kibou. It means 'hope' in Japanese." Musaki replied.
Manny looks at Musaki for a bit and is actually surprised to see that he knows Japanese like the back of his head and he never expected him to be in his nationality. He always thought he was Chinese and he asked, "But...I thought pandas like us are from here."
"They are. But some of my family hail from Japan. From what I learned, half of us are Chinese and the other half is from Japan. Because of it, we blend in pretty well and most of my dad's family do hail from Japan, though some emigrate from China and became full Japanese when they're born. It has been that way for a number of years. The whole time I thought I was Chinese...until about a year ago, I found out that I was born of both Chinese and Japanese descent. I was born by a Japanese dad and a Chinese mom, so I think that fit the puzzle pieces together. I had to know who my family were and who I am and I actually did. I barely tell people about my species ethnicity because of how they'll react to it and to shelter myself from being completely discriminated against. When I'm in the Valley of Peace, I'm Musaki Meng...but here, I'm Xing-Fu Musaki Ko-Kanji Bushido-Akio Meng Cheng Xi-Wang...that will always be here to stay." Musaki explained.
It made Manny feel inspired to hear something like this from his half-cousinand it's like he wants to embrace himself for who he is and Musaki smiled at him and said, "You seem overwhelmed by all this."
Manny takes a second to catch his breath and he said, "A lot overwhelmed. I mean...you've been through a lot of stuff in your life and you're still able to smile on everything. You losing your parents and being in an orphanage for 10 years, suffering through a lot of pain and you got stronger through it all. Most of us could never do that."
"I know for a fact that my parents are still looking down at me from heaven and it's because of them that I grew stronger each and every day." Musaki replied.
"So...you do kung-fu?"
"Yep. Most of my life when I started at age 2. Then, I made it a huge priority when I saw the Furious Five when I got older and figured that's what I might do for the rest of my life, be a well-respected yet humble kung-fu master." Musaki added.
"You have any moves you can show me?" asked Manny.
Musaki was surprised to hear that Manny wants to see his kung-fu moves and it was like he was inspired to try it so quickly and he said, "Yeah, sure."
As soon as they stepped out of the cave, Musaki shows him a few examples on doing kung-fu and he starts off with some swing-kicks, backflips, splits, twirls and other kung-fu moves he's doing which surprised and amazed Manny. He stood there with his mouth dropped and he said, "Whoa...what do these guys at the Jade Palace teach you?"
"Kung-fu is excellence in self. Being the best you can be. See, it doesn't have to be about hitting someone, though it is a small portion of it. It's not what you got in your moves, but what you got in you." Musaki said.
Manny was a little confused on that one and he asked, "Where do I have it?"
Musaki then points towards his chest and then he said, "It's what you got in your heart and in your spirit. Once you know what that's really all about, that's how you'll excel on being the best you can be. Some people got it and some don't have it...but my kung-fu skills are a gift that I've got inside of me in such a good purpose."
Manny quickly gets what he's saying and Musaki could see that he's starting to understand it a little bit more and Musaki starts it off and Manny emulates it and as the day goes by, they start off doing some kung-fu training of their own bringing in Musaki's talents to Manny and using it for something amazing.
They were totally unaware that Oak Sung was watching them the whole time and he seemed very impressed with his grandson...giving his half-cousin some lessons on kung-fu and he decided that he wanted to join in. He then comes down and gets in front of them, which caught their attention as Oak Sung brought out some moves he made, which surprised and stunned both boys.
He lets out a small chuckle and asked, "Who says old people can't do kung-fu?"
Musaki was impressed to see his own grandfather bust out some moves and even gave him a high-five and said, "You must've gotten a lot of skills from me."
"No...from Master Oogway." Oak Sung replied.
Manny widened his eyes at that as he heard about Oogway before and he asked, "You know Master Oogway?"
"Know him? He was my mentor when I was Xing-Fu's age...and we got off being really good friends later on. And I'm pretty sure that his amazing skills and wisdom has an effect on our family as well." Oak Sung added.
Musaki smiled at his grandfather for that and he said, "I think the Furious Five will be so jealous when they find out."
Oak Sung lets out a slight chuckle and said, "I've known Oogway since before they were even born. He definitely taught me and your father the real meanings of kung-fu. It's a gift and you must never take advantage of that gift."
Musaki nodded his head in understanding for that and he said, "I will. You wanna join in?"
"I've got some moves that will give Master Shifu a run for his money. After this, we head back to the valley because the funeral is tomorrow." Oak Sung said.
"Coolio."
Then, all three of them started practicing their kung-fu moves and it was then there that Musaki is really grateful for the people in his life...both his real family and his kung-fu family and he wouldn't have it any other way.
And that's where Musaki introduces Manny to kung-fu. Won't be long until the funeral.