Insecurities

Fear

Zheng-Hau jumped back and threw his shurikens at the panda. Po dodged three and caught the fourth, checking it and putting in his pocket. Zheng threw a smoke kunai, surrounding Po in a cloud of smoke. Zheng threw loud firecrackers into the cloud to distract Po. The jackrabbit darted into the smoke and expected to be behind Po. Zheng-Hau ducked at the sound of the shuriken Po caught. If it came from Zheng's left that meant- "Oh no," The jackrabbit muttered as Po jumped through the smoke like an eagle bearing down on its prey. The panda's gritted teeth and raging stare bore into the jackrabbit's widened eyes as Po punched the ground where Zheng-Hau was. The rabbit barely evaded the crushing punch. The punch blew the smoke away. While in the air, Zheng-Hau threw two of his explosive kunais at Po. Po quickly ran from them as they exploded. "You expect me to be accepted now? After everything I've done, there's no going back!" Zheng-Hau shouted as he ran after the panda.

"There is," Po argued, stopping in his tracks and blocking the swing of Zheng-Hau's katana with his kunai. "Tai-Lung used to be the most infamous person in all of China. In some parts, he still is," Po reminded the rabbit as he rolled Zheng-Hau's hand around, grabbed it, and forced Zheng's hand to the panda's left side. The two glared at each other face to face. "But that hasn't stopped us from forgiving him." Zheng-Hau shifted his right arm and revealed a kunai in the hand that Po caught. The panda quickly pushed him back, dodging the jackrabbit's sharp swing. Zheng threw another smoke bomb and then an explosive kunai straight in front of Po. Po remembered that the smoke mix was flammable. He jumped out of the smoke, just in time to avoid the ball of flame. Po stumbled to the ground. He looked to his left and saw Zheng-Hau's glimmering sword out to slice Po in half. The panda blocked it using two shurikens in his fingers.

"Okay, that's one way of blocking a sword," Zheng-Hau said, truly surprised at the improvision of the panda. While on his back, Po kicked the rabbit back and jumped to his feet. Zheng-Hau ran straight towards Po, swinging his sword left and right. Po dodged and ducked each slice. His two swords were strapped to his back, but he tried to win Zheng-Hau over without harming him. "You're going to have to fight back, Po."

"What's the point of us fighting, Zheng?!" Po shouted, getting nicked across his arm. "Ahh! I know you don't want to hurt me!" He mentioned noticing Zheng-Hau's worried look at Po's nicked fur. "So why fight me?"

"Because!" Zheng-Hau shouted, swinging his katana across. Po pulled his sword out and blocked the jackrabbit's swing, but the shockwave ripped through the ground. They were both very powerful. "You told me that insecurities were just stories! You just said that so you could get close to me! I've had to fight my weaknesses. I was always told my insecurities would be my downfall. That they were a sign of my weakness on the outside. You overcame your insecurities by just saying they were stories. But mines are more than just stories, Po! They're my life!" Zheng-Hau shouted. Zheng-Hau jumped back and threw a smoke bomb and explosive kunai, straight at Po's feet to pin him down. The jackrabbit jumped out of the smoke cloud as the ball of smoke lit up in flames. Zheng-Hau stuck his landing, waiting for the cloud of smoke to clear. Suddenly, a metal change sprung out the smoke cloud and wrapped around his torso. It was a long Kusari. It pulled Zheng-Hau back into the cloud of smoke, right where Po was.

"Then change it!" Po shouted as he headbutted the jackrabbit. Zheng-Hau fell to the ground unconscious. Po took this opportunity to take his cloak and all of his weapons off before he woke up again. Po simply sat in front of him, finding some supplies that they had from their previous sparring sessions to make tea. When Zheng came to, he woke up with a start, noticing a cup of tea placed before him. "You're up," Po acknowledged. Zheng-Hau looked up at the sky. It was about sunset.

"How long was I out?"

"About an hour," Po answered, sipping his own tea. Zheng-Hau rubbed his sore head. "Sorry about the headbutt."