One Tail at a Time

Strategies - 3

It would have been so easy to just beat him to a pulp.  I'm on top of him only because he quickly pulled me into his arms to protect me the moment we fell from Zutu Tree and though he is grunting, I am perfectly safe and unharmed.  But that doesn't mean I am not angry.  I am still very mad at him, myself and those Sprites even though it is all my own fault for trying to cheat.  So for a few seconds, my mind stills to consider my options while beaneath me, Shanhu is taking in large lungfuls of air having been winded.

"You are in so much trouble." he grunts painfully up at me.

"Well you're the one who cheated.  You know how hard I work to win!  And besides, you're bigger and stronger than me, you should have just left it alone!"  I reply tersely, though I am worried abut him, he really doesn't look all that good to me, and there's a little bit of blood on his head which makes me feel sort of guilty because I know he didn't cheat, but it flew out of my mouth anyway.

My attempt to gain the third flag by cheating, is the reason why I missed out on the flag, because for one, cheaters never win!  Unless they are Shifu because he is the biggest cheater in the world, and secondly because I wasted far too much time scheming, so it serves me right for losing.  Still, the urge to win at any cost, soon has the mischief rising when I finally pay attention to Shanhu whos eyes are clenched closed and his face is grimacing in pain seeing as I am lying flat on top of him.

I really should get Shifu to check out my Ghost brain, because far from being concerned about his health, which I know I truly should be, I am back to scheming again.

"Shan Shan....." I whisper in my most sweetest voice which soon has those eyes opening up below me.  "Are you alright?" I ask while managing to inflict just enough concern into my tone to make those eyes glisten.

"Shan Shan....?" he questions a little stunned by a term of endearment that I have never called him before, while struggling to sit himself up.

Shifu said, that one way to confuse an enemy, is to compliment him, say nice things about him and give him the impression that you admire them.  I can see how useful this information is, because not only is calling him Shan Shan making his eyes turn all gooey like Shifus, but he is very carefully sitting me up to look me over with the warmest of smiles on his face.

My own eyes furtively sneak a peek at the third and second flags which are on the ground behind him as he very gently gives me a little healing energy even though he is the one that actually needs it.  So I calmly stop him by pushing his hands down, before giving him a little of my energy instead.

"You are hurt Shan Shan, it is only right that I take care of you.  After all, Shifu might get grumpy with me for hurting you,  because you are his favourite." I tell him smiling which only has his eyes goggling wider.

"I am?" he asks more than stunned by this little secret.

"You am!" I reply giggling.  "That's why Shifu brings you here more than the others.  He thinks your ability to teach me and your gentle manner is a quality that will be beneficial to me.  So that's why you are Shan Shan, because you are the best of all the Disciples." I tell him earnestly before withdrawing my energy, having managed to stop the little cut on his arm from bleeding, while ignoring the big bump on his head and the suspicious look in his eyes having caught me eyeing the flags.

"Xiaobai, I won the game fair and sq....."

"And that's why you are my favourite Disciple too Shan Shan!" I squeal loudly before leaping into his lap and knocking him onto his back again.  Then before he can catch his breath, my crazy mouth starts blowing strawnberries all over his face!

He is laughing and somewhat stunned, because he is just lying there beneath me, but I on the other hand, am far more alert than he is.  Silly flush cheeked boy, thought he could outsmart me,  but he has no idea where my head had gone now.  One hand is tickling the side of his belly and the other already has the first flag in my hand while reaching for the second.