-Disclaimer: I do not own Kung Fu Panda or any of its characters-

New Feelings, New Ambitions

Part 12

As light seeped into Tigress room, she could feel its warmth caress her fur. She shifted and stretched at its welcome touch. The suns rays cascaded across her body and fill her shadowed curves with light and heat. She still had a smile on her face, one that had never faded from the night before.

I don't want to let this go. This feeling. I'm… complete. Right now, I am all I need to be. Tigress was thankful she didn't need to worry about Shifu's gong today, that they were allowed to spend their days as the chose, and she wanted to spend hers with Po.

Hearing the others starting to move about in their own rooms, Tigress decided that she should get up and get dressed. She stood slowly, allowing her body to stretch every which way that it needed. After her back gave its last crack, she strode across her room. It was a strange feeling, waking up naked, she had never done it before. She had always sleep in at least loose vest and pants, much like her normal attire, save for her wraps beneath her vest. But last night was different. Last night she didn't need to stay warm, she had heat coming from within herself, and that was all she needed.

Now here she was, nude and getting warm once again just thinking about the kiss she shared with Po. As she dressed she began to consider her next step. Should we tell the rest of the Five what we are to each other now? We're obviously more than friends, but even I don't know for sure what we are. I should speak with Po before saying anything to the others. He has every right to let his opinion be known.

Once she had finished getting dressed, Tigress opened her door out into the hall. The others were all still getting ready. She waited a bit, and then one by one, they all emerged from their rooms.

"Good morning, Tigress." Viper chimed as she slithered up to her.

Tigress gave her a smile and a nod. "Good morning to you as well."

The others all exchanged the regular pleasantries as well. It was only until after each said greetings that they realized that Po had yet to come out of his room.

"He must be taking advantage of Shifu's being gone." Monkey chuckled.

Tigress put her ear to his door and was not surprised to be met with snoring behind it. Po was out cold, a bad habit he still sometimes had issues with.

Tigress turned to her friends and sighed. "I will wake him, we will meet you in the dining hall. I won't be long."

Mantis laughed, "Poor Po. Don't hurt him too bad there, ok Tigress?"

Shaking her head as she did so, Tigress watched the others turn and walk down the hall, and she quietly slid open Po's door and slipped inside, closing it behind her.

Po lay before her, a big max of black and white plush, a gentle snore coming from somewhere within. Tigress couldn't help but smirk at him. The greatest Kung Fu master ever, dead to the world asleep. She knelt down and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Po… Po it's time to wake up." She began gently rocking him. All this did was cause his snores to turn into snorts and gargles. Tigress didn't know whether this was adorable or obnoxious.

Is there anyway to wake him other than hitting him? Tigress pondered how else he could be roused from his sleep. What were his weak points? Wait, when Po was telling us about his battle with Tai Lung, he said when the Leopard tried to use pressure points… it only ended up tickling Po….

Feeling a bit ridiculous, Tigress put her hands on Po's sides. She started slowly and softly squeezing Po. Then began to wiggle her fingers gently over his fur.

It didn't take long for Po to begin twitching and giggling "hehehe... Shtop that... That ticklesh..." He groggily tried to push her hands away, to no avail.

Tigress was starting to enjoy herself, "If you want me to stop you're going I have to get up and make me." She began laughing lightly as the panda continued making pitiful attempts to stop her. She moved her hands around a bit more, tickling his back and his stomach. "Come on Po, I know you can do better than that."

Po opened his eyes slowly, "Tigress? Are you tickling me?" Suddenly his eyes opened wide as he realized what was happening to him. He curled tight and began to laugh.

"Yes I am, I had to wake you up somehow. And I figured this would be nicer than hitting you."

Po's body was pulsating with his laughs. "Well I'm up now! You can stop! Pleeeeeaaaase!"

The pandas pleas were adequate, and Tigress let up on her attack... A terrible mistake.

In an instant ok was on top of her and pressing on her sides. Tigress had never been tickled before, but she was laughing all the same. Po was hitting her in spots that made her shiver, clench, and then suddenly relax.

"Po! Please! No! That... Tickles!" She tried in vain to hold his arms away but nothing came of it.

Po just smiled, "That was just a little pay back." He stopped his onslaught and looked at her.

His deep green eyes met hers and they both smile. Po leaned down and gave her a soft kiss, and then helped her up.

As they exited his room, Po asked "So... what do we tell the others?"

Tigress wasn't shocked by his question, more by the fact that she had no answer. "Well, I suppose... Po, I don't know what we tell them. We all trained together for so long, and we all shared the same teacher. We were taught to steel ourselves. I don't know how they would react if they were to find out that we were... Intimate. And Shifu... I have no idea what he would say..." Tigress brought her hand up and clutched her arm, this was the first time she had really thought about this aspect of her new relationship with Po, and the not knowing was awful.

Po jogged in front of her a bit and turned to face her. Putting his hands on her shoulders, he said, "Hey, this is new for me too. And yea, it's a little scary, but we'll figure it out," he put his finger under chin and lifted it so he was looking at her eyes, "Together."

Tigress closed her eyes and lifted her hand to his, and brought it to her cheek, pressing against it.

Po continued, "And hey, how about this, we don't have to tell them yet, let's give it a bit until we figure out what to say. That way we won't be stuck in a situation with no back up plan. How's that sound?"

Tigress opened her eyes and laughed, "Maybe we did teach you a little something about strategy after all." She kissed his hand, "But yes, that sounds like a good way to go about this." She loved how Po always knew how to calm her down, even when the situation ahead seemed so troublesome.

Smiling, Po brought his head down and kissed her cheek. "Let's go get some breakfast."

"Yes," Tigress gave him a quick peck on the cheek, "Let's."

The two walked to the dining hall, smiling and joking and talking all the way. Tigress was completely content. Po's right, no one needs to know until we're ready to tell them, let's just enjoy this, no need to fear what may or may not happen.

When they reached the dining hall, Monkey greeted them, "What took you so long? How sleepy were you Po?"

Po shrugged, "They say there are few things harder to wake up than a hard working panda."

"Like a boulder." Mantis snickered.

Everyone laughed at that, Tigress too.

"Come on! Let's eat!" Po proclaimed. As he cooked the other sat down and talked. They talked and talked, about silly and stupid things, serious and scary stories, but everyone had a good time.

As much fun as her friends were, Tigress kept finding herself watching Po. His dance like movements in the kitchen made her grin and she couldn't help but wish that she could be holding him while he did so.

When we tell them, it will be difficult to keep me away from him. Tigress thought with a smirk.

-And there's part 12! This was more of a filler chapter, but I still liked writing it, and I hope everyone likes reading it too. Thanks for all the reviews! Keep em coming! Part 13 will be posted soon. Thanks for reading!-