Chapter Text
Murmurs filled the crowd. They were all trying to catch a glimpse of something.
Tigress wondered what it could be. "It's probably something harmless, but it's always better to take a look."
"Wow! Master Crane made these?" "His craftsmanship is remarkable!"
So it was Crane's art. Tigress leaned forward to try and examine the drawings. It was the drawings of his fellow masters, excluding him, the artist, and of course, Tigress. Her absence wasn't only noticed by her, though.
"Hmm? Why isn't there a picture of Master Tigress?" "I heard she had a fight with the rest of the group..."
Tigress sighed and continued on her path. Rumors didn't affect her, she told herself. Her only aim was Kung-fu. Crane was quite foolish, spending his time drawing instead of building endurance. She had to admit though, the pictures were pretty good. But it didn't matter, did it? She sighed as she entered her favorite restaurant.
As she left the place, she could already feel a change in the air. The crowds were eyeing her, some pitiful and some irked. The rumors must've spread faster than she'd hoped. She could almost hear their words as she made her way through the crowd.
"What are you all whispering about? Gossip is a revolting habit." grunted Tigress, annoyed.
The outburst seemed to prove something to the people.
"O-oh, it's nothing." "I'm sorry, Master Tigress, I'll do better next time."
Tigress knew they'd start talking again as soon as she left. They didn't. Before she had barely turned her head, the murmurs came up again.
"See, I told you she had a temper." "She's vicious! Almost like a..."
"Almost like a Monster."
.
.
.
Now that she thought about it, the arrangement of the pictures seemed like it had highlighted Tigress's absence. Was he that spiteful after being turned down? Did he feel it revenge if he made the gullible townspeople dislike her. If he was here, she'd give him a good roughing up.
"Master Tigress?"
Tigress turned around, but she knew who it was from voice alone. Master Crane.
"No"
"Master Tigress, I'm sorry. I was upset and-and I put the pictures up. I didn't know it would cause such a commotion, I promise it wasn't my intention. I-"
"Enough" If she fought him, it'd prove to everyone that they were right. "I don't care about the rumors or your pettiness. My only wish is to improve my Kung-fu. You should share the same aim. You look too frail."
And with that, she left.
"I-I... never should've bothered apologizing, should I have?