The New Pupil
				Story and Characters by NB

	A dull clammer echoes around the train station mixed in with the nearly garbled announcements blairing over the intercom. During all of this the rain rolled into the station with a long, loud screech from its brakes ending with a hiss of steam just before the doors open. Among the people who step out of the passenger cars is a young feline dressed in what few would consider appropriate attire. Flinging his duffle bag over his shoulder he slowly walks across the platform while scanning the crowd his cloth wrapped feet clapping against the smooth tile with every step. After a few minutes he spots a booth labeled "Information" and approaches inside is a rather husky male gorilla, "According toy your sign you have information?", the cat asks his voice rough but still youthful, "Yes sir, what can I help you with?", the monkey says as he turns in his chair sounding polite but clearly not interested in his job. "I have traveled many miles, across many countries looking for a challenge worthy of my skills. Do you know where I can find such a fighter?", the feline asks with a sincere look of determination on his face.

	At a building that looks like a fuedal Japanese home nestled among a mix of personal shops and small apartments a chubby female panda unlocks the front door and flips the simple sign around to read "Open". The panda turns back into the open room that serves as the entrance to both her home and her business, "Mei-Xiu, have you gotten started in the kitchen yet?", she calls out in mandirin. From the doorway behind the counter to her left a younger voice replies, "Already heating up the oven, Auntie Lian." Lian rolls her eyes with a disgusted sigh, "I wish she wouldn't call me that.", she mutters to herself as she takes her place behind the main counter facing the door. Shortly after taking her place three women enter all wearing kimonos with name tags, "Morning, Miss Lianne!", they all chime as they move past her into the employee area. 

	In the private residence portion of the building in a darkend room lit only by the glow of a computer screen the woosh and spahs of energy swords ring out along with a J-pop song as two mechanical warriors face each other in battle. A slender male panda with a single black spot over his left eye quickly grabs a Red Bull and chugs the contents his bloodshot eyes focusing on the screen, "You think you're going to win this don't you, Chiba? The tortoise might have beaten the hare but you're dealing with a dragon!",he shouts into his headset to which an older male voice calmly responds, "Heh, quite the bravado, JiaoLong. Let me show you why the community calls me Saikyou Majin." The young boy dawns a smile as he takes the controller back in his hands, "Bring it old man!"

	The feline wipes his forehead as he walks down the sidewalk with the sun beating down on him. He opens a slip of paper checking an address given to him by one of the many people he had questioned about a strong fighter. He frowns as he looks at his once clean hand wraps now lightly spotted with blood and dirt from earlier fights, "Tsk, two dojos and a boxing club without a single good fighter among them." He checks the building numbers until he finds the one that matches the address on the paper only for his eyes to be met with a sign that reads: Jade Dragon Spa. "This can't be the place.", he thinks to himself as he walks in pausing as he spots Lian behind the counter. "Oh, Hello and welcome to the Jade Dragon.", Lian gently bows to him which only surprises him as he notices her white ears. "Go here, I heard there's a kung fu fighter living there. You'll know when you see 'em, got white ears and face mask marking.", these were the word of the coah at the boxing club, "I never thought it would be a woman, but I won't let the fact that she is a woman get in the way of my goal!" the feline thinks to himself dropping his bag. Lian tilts her head a bit as the young male's expression changes shortly before charging at her she gasps in surprise and quickly duck to the side as the feline launches a punch that cracks the wall.

	Lian run down the hall with the feline in hot pursuit, "What they hell is wrong with you, kid?", she screams before bolting round a corner. The boy follows close behind launching punches and kicks that miss by a hair, "Why do you insist on running? This would be more challenging if you fought back!", he shouts as the chase continues the other employees and customers peeking out of the private rooms to see what the commotion is. Lian breathes heavily as she bursts out into the garden leading to the part of the building that is her home tumbling to the ground. Her kimono comes undone during her fall but she manages to cover herself as the feline walks through the doorway. "Why are you doing this?", she asks on the verge of tears as she pants heavily, "I've traveled the world looking for a worthy fighter and my travels have lead me here.", he replies.

	"Well if you want a fight my aunt isn't a very good choice.", Jiao-Long says as he steps out into the garden wearing a black kung fu gi with a light blue sash tied around his waist. "Do not interfere or I will have teach you proper fight edicate.", the feline scowls at the young panda with his fists clinched, "Fine by me.", is Jiao-Long's retort as he eases into a tiger stance. Lian gathers herself and quickly moves to the side as she's joined by Mei-Xiu who is still wearing her apron and carrying a wooden spoon, "Are you okay? I buzzed Brother when I heard the commotion.", Lian nods slowly as she catches her breath.

	"I see you have white ears as well, perhaps you are the fighter I was informed about. If that is the case I accept your challenge.", the feline raises his fists in front of him and raises onto his toes, "I am known as Gamon the Iron Fist may I ask who you are?" "I'm Zeng Jiao-Long.", with their introductions finished the two charge at one another exchanging blows that barely miss their mark as each fighter dodges or blocks their oppnent's attacks neither making any ground before breaking. Jiao-Long maintains his guard  but is breathing heavily while Gamon's stance was relaxed and his breathing unchanged, "You are good, few have ever been able to dodge my attacks. However, I will not play with you any longer." "Play with me? What-", Jiao-Long suddenly cut himself off as the cat rushed forward at blinding speed then just as quickly encircled him a meer blur. The panda nervously glances around him trying to anticipate any attack when suddenly he's hit hard from behind then just as quickly hit from the front preventing him from falling.

	Mei-Xiu covers her mouth with her hand as she watches her twin brother being batted around from all angles never given a chance to block or even fall. At long last the whirl slows and comes to a stop a few beads of sweat rolling down Gamon's face as he glared at Jiao-Long who was now barely able to stand. The panda's body trembles as he tries to stay upright and struggles to see out of a bloody eye, the other already swollen shut. "Pathetic.", Gamon remarks as he turns away stopping with surprise as another panda now stands in the middle of the garden. He was large and fat with a unkepmt beard and receeding hairline, "You're pretty good but *hic* what skill does it take to beat a beginner?", he says with a stretch the sound of joints popping clearly audible. Gamon stares at him, "White ears.. the eye marking.. this HAS to be him, but it cannot be I can tell he is no great fighter.", he thinks to himself, "Stand aside old man, I have wasted enough time here. I will not waste more on you." The old panda scoffs and motions to Mei-Xiu, "Get your brother, he's in the way.", she nods and quickly makes her way to his side placing one of his arms around her and helping him into the house.

	The old panda scratches his bloated belly and sighs deeply, "It's bad enough you beat up my nephew, overconfident as he is, but my sister tells me you also made a mess of her business all without prior provocation. Whatever time you feel you've wasted is only a small matter compaired to what you've done and I don't plan on letting you leave without making it right." Gamon sneers then charges forward, "I would like to see you make me stay!", he shouts as he begins the same technique he used to beat Jiao-Long. As the young feline dashes around him at blinding speed the panda calmly looks from side to side then quickly throws a punch to his right knocking Gamon out of his attack and onto his back. "H-how?", he stammers as he gets to his feet, "No one has ever beaten that technique!" "I would hardly call that method of attack a technique. It relies solely on your speed with no skill required to execute it. Young boys like you think all it takes is some fancy footwork and a strong punch to be a good fighter." The panda cracks his knuckles and loosens his neck, "Now if you want to see real technique I suggest your brace yourself.", he says as he lowers himself into a horse stance and slowly waves his arms in the manner of a Ying-Yang symbol. Lian grits her teeth, "Bo! You better not ruin my flowers!", she shouts only to be ignored as he brings his hands together, cupping them at his side. Gamon stands motionless, confused at what the man was doing, but he snaps back to the fight and quickly backs away, "At this distance I will easily see him comming.", he thinks as the old panda suddenly both hands forward with a shout and suddenly Gamon finds himself thrown back even hard than he was punched once more looking up at the sky.

	He tries to move but only manages a few twitches as his body is suddenly flooded with pain like he had never felt before. The panda stands over him with a smirk, "Once you feel like you can get up I want you see my sister at the front desk, I'm sure she'll have everything you need to fix up the place by then." He starts to walk away when Gamon asks, "What.. is you're name?", he turns to see the feline already starting to move, "My name is Xiao WeiSheng." Gamon's eyes widened and immediately stood up it was then he noticed the ground had been ripped up as if by a plow in the space that had seperated him from the panda, "I had heard from my teacher that there we great fighters in this world with fantastic abilities, but I never imagined such a technique could exist.", Gamon drops to his hands and knees, "Please! Teach me!" WeiSheng scratches his beard, "I have my hands full as it is making Jiao-Long train.", he thinks while looking to his pupil's room seeing Mei-Xiu still teding to him, "But purhaps this will get him motivated." WeiSheng walks over to the boy and lightly places his hand on his shoulder, "Very well, from this day forward I will teach you along side my nephew."

To be continued....maybe