Love of the Dragon Warrior

Sunshine for raindrops

The next morning as Po made his way to the kitchen, he was intercepted by Tigress who had clearly hung back at the front of the doors to talk to him.

"What did you tell Ordai yesterday?" she asked. Po couldn't help but notice that she looked slightly concerned, though she tried to keep a composed expression. "She gave me the death glare this morning."

Po groaned. "Nothing," he told the master. "I just said if she kept being rude to everyone, I'd tell her to leave."

"So why is she mad at me?"

"I don't know. I don't really understand why she gets so irritated in the first place, but I told her if she kept making underhanded comments about Tai Lin, or Jai Rong, or you...well, especially you with the whole Dragon Warrior thing-"

"Ah. That explains it."

Tigress' gaze relaxed a bit, but Po could still tell that she was curious and confused, so he explained that he wanted to give everybody a chance. He knew that sometimes people took a while to open up or understand things, so he wanted to be patient. But if Ordai wasn't willing to do that even with a warning, then that was her last chance.

"Is someone messing with my best friend?" interrupted a somewhat familiar voice.

Po jumped three feet in surprise while Tigress just laughed at his expense.

"I'm fine, Neikan. Don't worry about me," Tigress told the young iriomote.

"One of the girls is just being miffy with her being the new Dragon Warrior is all," Po explained quickly. "I'm handling it."

"Ah, I see. It sounds like we could all use a break then."

"We're managing," Tigress promised.

Neikan smirked and slid next to Tigress, locking arms with her. "Are you sure?" she asked. "I'm going to be outdoors all day in the nice and serene forest and could use some company...you could come on a nice long stroll with me and then stop by for some tea....."

Tigress eyed her. "What's the catch?" she asked.

"What catch? Two best friends can't spend the day together?"

"Today's not your day off and you're making that face you make when you're hiding something."

"Oh, so serious, Master Tigress! You got me. Ella's going out today with Princess Shu-Yang, and I've been called to be bodyguard while they explore the bamboo forest and some of the sights from the cliffs."

"I see. And you want me to go because you need relief?"

"Guarding isn't as glamorous as it sounds, so as well as possibly being bored from looking at nothing, I hear Ella's conversation is draining to listen to. So I could use a friend who I can roll my eyes with."

Tigress laughed. "I suppose," she admitted. "But you'll have to take that up with Master Shifu. He has training plans and he doesn't like to have them interrupted."

"Oh by all means," Neikan said, walking backwards into the kitchen and dragging Tigress with her. "I'll have great fun convincing your dad to let you come along."

"Don't call him that," Tigress warned firmly.

Po held back a laugh as they disappeared from sight and he was quick to run after them to get breakfast and see the show. Especially since it turned out Neikan took great pleasure in chatting with Master Shifu, who had never had a full conversation with her and was surprised by her very casual manner of speaking to higher ups. (Neikan's excuse was that her parents raised her to treat equals with respect but never to be belittled, so her conversations tended to be very forward, which Tigress concurred with clear enjoyment at Shifu's confusion). She took some tea that Viper offered her and then proceeded to converse with Shifu about the positives of Tigress accompanying her on a very scenic and educated journey with the princess and Ella. Ella of course was very happy to have Tigress journey with her and was surprised and intrigued by the master's friendship with Neikan. Tigress had to give her friend a very quick look to keep her conversation limited alongside a look which Shifu and the Five knew meant something along the lines of I do not want to deal with awkward conversation right now. Fortunately Neikan got the hint and simply told Ella that between herself and Tigress, she'd be the safest she ever could be. Shifu mulled over the idea as breakfast was served, but then conceded and allowed the Dragon Warrior to accompany the guards.