Author's note: I don't own Kung Fu Panda (No matter how much I want too) it is only owned by Dreamworks. I only own Mei Wen (Ligress), and my other OCs. Please no flames and leave a review. Enjoy! :D
Ch. 8 An Agreement and Arrival
On that day followed by Hope, Kaizer was making his way back to the others with Ligress over his left shoulder. Ligress was shouting and screaming her lungs off but to no avail Kaizer didn't seem to care. Kaizer then suddenly stopped in an empty clearing and turned to his step-brother.
"Hope, we need to signal the others that we found Mei Wen. I need your help for a second. Go through my left pocket and pull out a smoke bomb and toss it high." Kaizer instructed.
"Uh, okay." He said. Hope then went to Kaizer's left side, went through his pocket and pulled out one smoke bomb. He then tossed it high in the air. In seconds it exploded and it let out loud bang of smoke.
"That should draw in their attention and lore them over here. Also, that was loud enough to draw the villagers attention too, so I hope they get here fast." Kaizer stated.
A few brief moments passed and during that short time, Ligress was becoming quite loud. In irritation Kaizer karate chopped her on the back of her head and laid her down passed out on the ground.
"Hey Kai, don't you think what you did was a bit, much?" Hope asked him.
"No, it was enough to me." Kaizer said back. Minutes passed and the first ones to arrive was Takami and Faith. Then the Wu Sisters and Ren, and finally Viper and Crane with Kovu and Borko.
"Took you all long enough." Kaizer said to everyone. Everyone then looked at the girl who was passed out on the ground beside him.
"Who's the girl?" Takami had to asked.
"Our target." Kaizer answered. Takami and Faith eyes widen and then immediately looked at each other nervously.
"What did you do to her?" Faith asked in a worried tone.
"She's knocked out. Relax, she's fine." Kaizer told them. So they discussed a small conversation on their way back to the entrance and to get out. From a distance a female bird was watching them, then took off.
Finally making it out of the village and exiting the cave, the gang was successfully outside in the forest. They walked a great distance away from the cave then laid a camp sit. Evening was rolling in and Kaizer set Ligress inside the tent on a bed mat. He then sat down up against hall of the cloth tent. As he watched her sleep, he couldn't help but admire her looks a little. He shuck the thought as he realized that she was beginning to wake.
"Where am I?" She murmured.
"Your with us." Kaizer piped up. She raised up and immediately started growling at him.
"YOU! Who do you think you are?!" She yelled.
""I think we've covered this already. First, if you quiet down and listen you'll understand whats going on. We're not here to hurt you." Kaizer assured her. Ligress decided to stop growling and sat back done and listen. But she still kept her annoyed expression.
"Out with it." She said.
"Okay, do you know an old red panda named Shifu?" Kaizer started with. She thought about then come to realize.
"Yes, I do. He and my dad were long distances friends a long time ago before my dad passed. Why?" She asked.
"We've been sent to find you by his request. He said you would have been there with him in the Valley of Peace, until you mysteriously disappeared. He finally found out your whereabouts and sent a small group of us to come find you. Then we ended up running into a few more people, it's been kinda crazy. Anyway, I'm going to ask you: do you accept my offer and live in the Valley of Peace with us."
Ligress pondered the white tiger's offer in thought thinking, "I do wanna get out of Dai-Ming for a long time. The people there is so rude and annoying. Plus no one even cared about me, besides my aunt, but even she hardly visits me. But she doesn't seem to care either, all she wants me to do is stay inside. I guess I'll go for it."
"Fine, I'll go. I didn't like Dai-Ming anyway." She said.
"It's good that we're not going to have any problems Mei Wen." Kaizer said.
"By the way, don't call me by my real name. I go by Ligress." She told him. "Who are you?" She asked further.
"Kaizer. We're having camp here, in the morning we're heading back as soon as we can. You can stay in here in my tent if you want. I'm seeing the others." Kaizer said standing up and walking out. In front of the tent, Kaizer put his paws on his waste and in-and-exhaled.
"How'd it go?" Hope asked sitting down on a log, saving him a set around the camp fire. Kaizer then sat next him and answered, "Anything could have happen. But we reached an agreement. She agreed to come with us, sort of."
"Well Kai, you have your job now. Shifu's instructed for you was, ahem, you have to keep watch, look after her, and protect her at all times." Takami reminded.
"Takami I know what the freak-in objective is. I just don't know why he choose me." Kaizer said.
"He always has his reasons. So I guess he sees something about you that helped him think your right for this job." Faith stated.
"I guess."Said Kaizer as he shrugged his shoulders. After that there was a moment of silence, until...
"Su, I've been meaning to ask you something?" Said Takami.
"What is it Son of Kamikaze?" Su said.
"That's just it. How do you know him?" Takami asked sternly. Suddenly everyone got interested and became silent.
"I suppose I can tell you...later." Su answered. Takami snarled at her reply and said, "Sooner or later you will tell me, and if you think after this little journey is over that I'll let you go Scot-free, your dead wrong. I'll hunt you down if I have to, and get my answers by force."
"Whatever kid." Su said back then proceeded to leave with her sisters to their tent.
"Well, I'm calling it a night. Good night everyone." Ren said heading to her tent to rest. Everyone figured that she had the right idea and started going to the tents, except for Hope. Takami headed off somewhere else.
Kaizer noticed Hope still sitting down on the log. "Hope, are you going to sleep?
"I'm gonna be out here a little longer." Hope said leaning his head on his paws. Kaizer nodded and entered his tent that he now shares with Mai Wen. Overhearing the conversation, Faith made way over to the bear.
"Hope?" Faith spoken up from behind. Hope turned to face the jade-eyed cheetah. "Hey Fay. What's sup?"
Faith nervously rubbed her left arm. She was quiet for a moment, but then she spoke. "Uhmm, is it alright that we talk?"
"Yeah, sure. Go ahead, take a seat." Hope offered. Faith then sat beside and again there was silence. Breaking the silence Faith said, " Uh, I'm sorry for being a little strict lately."
"Yeah, you were a little...mean lately. Why were you, did I do something?" Hope asked. Faith sighed shuck her head.
"No, it wasn't because of you. Well, not entirely. Uh, you see, I sorta like you." Faith stated in a nervous tone, continuing to rub her spotted arm.
"Well, I like you too. We're friends after all." Hope said smiling widely. Faith Sweatdropped of what Hope said, not catching what she meant. She had the sense to thump him on the nose, one of his pet-pevs but restrains herself from doing so.
"I meant, more than a friend. Ever since you arrive and became the Phoenix Warrior a few months ago, I started having...emotions, towards you." She stated clearer.
Finally catching on to what she really meant, a wave of oh's echoed in the back of his mind. The bear was now speechless of a loss of words. He didn't know what to say or do.
'Oh great, now he probably thinks I'm out crazy.' Faith thought shutting her eyes in self-embarrassment. But suddenly completely unexpected, Hope kissed her on the check. Hope removed his lips away from the cheetah and immediately closed his eyes waiting for her to punch him to smithereens. But soon felt nothing, reopening one of his eyes and sees Faith wide-eyed and blushing.
"Your going to punch me now, aren't you?" Hope figured.
Faith snapped out of her trance shuck her head. "No, not to you. I wouldn't intentionally hurt you Hope. " She answered. Still rubbing her arm, Faith quickly stood up and turned away from Hope's eyes.
"Hope? Aside of Kiba, Takami, and the others, I've never been so attached to someone like you, this much. When I was young, I thought falling in love was just make-believe. I thought it was a waste of time and just an excuse for mating. But when I saw you, I thought, no...I knew you were different and I wanted to give you a chance. But a day ago when I saw Ren flirting with you, that's when I started getting rash and pent-up lately. I, care about you" Faith admitted in explanation. She dared to not turn around facing Hope, shutting her eyelids trying to hold back the tears.
After a moment Hope got up and embraced her backside into a real bear-hug. Reopening eyes widely from shock. Turning around in the arms of the friendly teenage bear, Faith gazed into his bright brown eyes.
"Faith? I had a crush on you since we first met, and I always wanted to ask you. I was just afraid. Your tough and fast-pace personality and skills are, intimidating." Hope wittily stated. Faith giggled at his response as Hope carefully wiped the remaining tear out from her eyes. Faith then motioned Hope to move closer face to face. Then, their lips connected into a passionate kiss. After a minute the two finally detached from the kiss and stared into each others eyes.
"So, does this make us..." Hope paused.
"Together, yes." Faith finished in a happiness in her soft tone-of-voice. Hope smiled in content.
"Well uh, I guess see you in the morning as we head out with the others." Hope stated. Faith nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we should get to sleep. Good night, Hope" Faith said as they both entered their own tents.
Unknown to them, a certain fire bending tiger was hiding onto of the highest point of the tree, sitting on a branch as he weighted his head on his paw.
'Nice going you two. It was as if you guys were made for each other, brushing aside that Hope's a bear and Faith's a cheetah. But, it does seem like it.' Takami thought. "Man, I sure do miss Layla right now." He said looking at the stars above.
"KOVU! BORKO!" A feminine voice called.
"What? Wait, that can't be." Takami said immediately jumping down from the tree and looking where the call was coming from. In his sight, a black tigress with white stripes was running towards him. "Layla?"
"Takami?" She questioned herself and in quick realization knew it was him. Both tigers stopped in front of each and embrace each other. Separating from the hug Layla spoke. "Takami, Kovu and Borko ran off to follow you and I was sent to bring them back. Please, please, please tell me their here with you?"
"Yeah, their in my tent sleeping." Takami answered.
"Good, I'm glad their safe. Ooh I'm so going to give them a huge lecture of why running away is bad." Layla said.
"I'll come with you." Takami said as well pointing at his temporary tent. Layla then walked toward and stormed inside. Takami humorously shuck his head as he watch Layla lecture at both cubs. Takami knew her intentions were good as both did care about brown lion cub and tiger cub.
Hey guys, sorry for the wait, I've been busy with school and all and I still am. I just had time to write this. Until the next chapter as Layla and Ligress finally joined the huge gang. Please leave a review and I see ya next time. Spirit, out. ^_^