Here's how Musaki tells the rest of them about his competition and how he took it all in stride when he came in second place. So much so that his optimistic attitude seems to impress them...well almost.
Chapter 23: Musaki's Optimistic Perspective
Later on, Arizona heads back to his dorm and as he unpacks most of his stuff, he sees Ruiz and Shing coming in and they're both completely stoked up that Arizona's back and Shing said, "Z-wolf! Welcome back, man!"
Arizona chuckled softly at that and he said, "Great to be back, Shing."
"So...did Musaki win the competition?" asked Ruiz, excitedly as if he was about to burst.
"I think Musaki would rather tell us all about it with the rest later on today. After all that dragon flying, I think I might need a little rest." Arizona explained.
Shing chuckled in understandment and sees that Arizona is a little worn out and said, "Guess all that flying got you pooped, huh?"
Arizona chuckled softly as he laid on his mat and replied, "Yep."
Without question, Shing and Ruiz quietly left the room to let Arizona nap for a while because after flying to and from Shanghai Secluded Valley, he needed a big rest just so he would look forward to hear all about Musaki's competition experience.
2 hours later...
As the gang gathered up in the kitchen to hear about how it went, Musaki explained everything that had occured since he was there, between the competition rounds to making it to the finals and how some of his training paid off bigger than anything because of it. All the masters listened in awe and excitement about this and it made Shifu more enthusiastic about that.
"Wow. I never thought that you would be able to use those moves the way you did. I wished I was there." Shifu said.
"And this guy Jaa...dude was freakin' nuts. And I thought Tigress was hardcore. This guy is literally harder than hardcore, he's more like super freaky hardcore." Musaki added.
Tigress glared at him thinking it was referred to her and lets out a slight growl and Musaki rolled his eyes at this and said, "Oh, come on! Can't ya take a joke, at least just once?"
"What joke?" asked Tigress.
Musaki rolled his eyes and decided to move on to it as he turned to the rest and said, "Anywho...it was the best experience I ever had and I've pretty much conquered every single round, of course some of the contestants were doing really well. I've never received that much support for anyone and it was insanely awesome."
Po was super-excited to hear what Musaki did in the competition and he could not wait to hear what happened next and he was quick to ask, "So...did you win, Lil' Saki?"
The masters were waiting with bated breath to hear that Musaki won the competition and suddenly, Musaki took a deep breath as if they wanted to hear the truth about it and he asked, "Ya really wanna know?"
"Yes, we do! You've got to be in first place, right?" asked Monkey, excitedly.
"Actually, I came in..." Musaki paused for a minute and got really nervous to see what their reaction might be if he landed in second place because he wasn't sure how they'll take it, but when he looked at Arizona, the young wolf cracked a smile and nodded his head to make sure that everything will be okay if he told them.
"Well? We're waiting." Tigress said, with her patience getting lower.
Musaki sighed heavily and knew that it was time to get it out in the open and with a smile, he replied, "I finished in second place."
Suddenly, everyone went from excited to shocked and surprised to hear the two words 'second place' come out of Musaki's mouth and everyone asked, "Second place?"
"Yeah." Musaki replied.
Crane was a little taken aback that Musaki finished in second place and he didn't expect him to be in that position because his skills were so well beyond his years and something that no kung-fu master would even attempt to do and then he asked, "Who took first?"
"A young skilled warrior with a lot of potential and that I've been friends with along the way; Liu Shang." Musaki replied.
Shifu was silent as he could not believe that Musaki finished second place and he didn't know how to respond to that or even react in a certain way, assuming that Musaki might've been disappointed that he didn't win like most of them expected to and Viper looks over at him with a sympathic expression and said, "I'm sorry you lost, Musaki."
Musaki smiled at her and he said, "Hey, don't worry about it. I'm actually okay with being second place."
That single comment surprised everyone except for Arizona that Musaki seemed lighthearted and easy-going with finishing second like it never mattered to him. Monkey stared at him and asked, "You're not disappointed or mad?"
"Not really. And to be honest, I never wanted to win in the first place like everyone hoped I would. I just came there because it's still an honor to participate in it, so I hold no ill feelings towards Liu Shang because I'm too much of a big-hearted person to do that. You sometimes have to take losses very maturely and just go with the flow instead of being mad that you lost a single round or whatever. If the person wins, we should boost them up, not tear them down. Besides, it was meant to happen anyway." Musaki explained.
"So...you're okay with it?" asked Po, conffusedly.
Musaki chuckled softly and replied, "Definitely. What matters is that I did my parents, the people in Shanghai Secluded Valley and most importantly...you guys proud and I think I succeeded."
Shifu chuckled at Musaki's lighthearted attitude about this and he was surprised that he took it well than his students would've took it if they were placed in his position and said, "Well, I'm very impressed with how you're handling this."
Mantis hopped onto Musaki's shoulder and said, "Come on, man. You should've won! That Jaa character would've been easy to beat. And I'm surprised that girls didn't throw themselves over you because they would want to be your mate."
Viper quickly slithered over to Mantis and whacked him in the head and said, "Must you show more crude remarks about women and instill it in Musaki's head?"
"Hey, I'm just saying. It would've been cooler if Musaki was a ladies' man." Mantis said, while chuckling sly-like.
Musaki rolled his eyes at that and he said, "One did throw a rose for me though and all I did was wave hi to them."
"That was a very nice gesture." Viper said, smiling.
Mantis mocked at her silently, but of course, Viper whipped his head again and she said, "Why couldn't you be more like Musaki? At least he's a sweet gentleman."
"But beside all of that, we're really proud of you." Shifu said, happily.
"And I have you guys to thank. I still feel like a winner though." Musaki said, happily.
That comment seemed to irritate Tigress to the brink and she stood up out of her chair, seemingly outraged at how he took Musaki's loss as nothing and said, "Why would you say you still feel like a winner? You didn't win first place!"
Musaki could sense that she seems a little upset with the fact that he took second place well and he replied, "Because I won the support and love of Shanghai Secluded Valley and you guys as well. Besides, does it really matter who wins first place?"
"I can't believe you have the decency to say this like losing never matters to you! What if you were disappointed in yourself? Or worse, letting every kung-fu master down because everything you do isn't perfect? How would you feel about that?" Tigress shouted.
"Hey, hey, hey, Tigress. Calm down." Po said, trying to diffuse the situation.
"Po's right...for once. If Musaki's okay with the end result of the competition, we're okay with it also." Shifu added, sternly.
"Yeah, not every warrior is a perfect warrior." Musaki responded.
Tigress got really mad about what Musaki just said that not every warrior is a perfect warrior and in her eyes, she sees this as an insult and said, "All warriors should be perfect! Even me!"
Arizona stared at her for a while, in a cofused look seeing as how she shifted from Musaki to herself and asked, "Where are you going with this?"
"Musaki lost a match and he's fine with it! I think that's a sign that means you're letting the winner take all the glory from you!" Tigress shouted.
Shifu decided to step in before it gets worse and he said, "Master Tigress, just because Musaki took second place doesn't mean that he should give up! And above all, not every warrior is perfect! It's not important that he wins first place or even win a match above others. What matters is that he did what he was supposed to do; be the best he can be and that's what he did. He didn't have to prove anything to you, me or any one of us. And for you to say this to him is utterly unneccesary and childish!"
Musaki kept watching this unfold and he could see that this is an awkward moment and he said, "Maybe I should be excused for a while."
Shifu quickly went to him and said, "You don't have to go. Tigress did not mean what she said. And I'm glad that you're still very optimistic about all of this and as I have told you, you're still a winner to all of us here."
Viper, Po, Mantis, Monkey, Arizona and Crane all smiled for Musaki's support and he knows that whatever happens, nothing will change him in an instant because he's that kindhearted and Shifu went on to say, "And we're all very proud of you."
Tigress scoffed at this and said, "I'm disappointed that you're in second place."
Musaki shook it off like it's nothing and just continued smiling, which angered Tigress a little as she sat back down, sneering at him. Po then asked, "Are you gonna come back to reclaim your throne?"
"Actually, I told my grandfather that I won't be participating next year. I'm already the 20th bloodline of the Bushido-Akio clan to win or participate in this competition and I already fele like I'm honored and privileged to be a part of something that's awesome and that it'll be the best memory to keep with for the rest of my life and that's good enough for me." Musaki answered.
Crane puts his wing around Musaki's shoulder and said, "We totally understand. You're gonna turn out to be a very special warrior someday."
"Besides, it's only one time. I will join in the audience though to root the future contestants on. That to me is considered honorable enough." Musaki added.
Shifu smiled at Musaki because of his optimistic nature and said, "This is why we all respect you...because of your positive outlook on life and how you've grown into a mature young man. I know for a fact that you will be a great and inspiring kung-fu master in your future."
"Thanks, Master Shifu. And it's because of you guys that made me be who I am today." Musaki said, happily.
"Oh, please! What makes you think you'll be a great warrior because you landed in second place?" Tigress scowled.
Musaki stood up from his seat and placed his hand about his heart and said, "Because I am a warrior...right here."
Tigress was shocked to hear Musaki saying that he's a warrior at heart instead of on the outside and he also said, "I can't be one on the outside if I'm not one on the inside. That's what makes me stronger...is to stay true to myself and believe in myself."
Musaki then walks out of the kitchen, leaving most of the warriors in awe over Musaki's words and its inspiring message. Shifu then looks at Tigress and said, "You should learn from Musaki that there is more to life than winning. Let that be a lesson to you all; that if you look at the positive outlooks on life rather than the negative and if that you believe in yourself, anything is possible. And that you're all warriors not just on the outside, but on the inside as well."
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement by that statement and Shifu then excused himself out of the kitchen and Tigress sat back down, feeling like she was still hurt with the fact that Musaki accepted the fact that he's in second place and never gets himself disappointed for it. Soon, it turned to guilt after the way she treated him after letting her anger get the best of her and that it shouldn't have happened.
"Boy, did Musaki sure tell you." Monkey added.
Then, Shifu quickly came back and said, "Tigress, I almost forgot to tell you, your suspension from your training privileges has been expanded to two months."
That made Tigress shocked and furious to hear that come out of Shifu and screamed, "WHAAAAAATTTT!"
"Ouch." Arizona whispered.
Was that crazy or what? Forgive me if I made Tigress a little out of control on this one. There's two more chapters coming up!