SHAOSHI MOUNTAIN

Miss Mei called all students back to the dojo ready to continue the lesson. There wasn't much time left so she had to make things brief conclusion and told them to keep on practicing the moves, making sure they are able to perfect some of it tomorrow. The class ended and the students were ready to head back to their hostels, jaggy was still left with a sad glum on his face and some of the other students gave him sympathetic glances.

Meili felt she had to try and cheer him up, so she called up kagawa and fuse to join her. Though kagawa wasn't looking interested in doing that but Meili didn't give him a second choice. " Jaggy, I'm sorry for the way Kagawa behaved earlier. He didn't mean to upset you, I promise. Can you find it in your heart to forgive him?" Meili asked, her voice filled with sincerity. Kagawa stood by her side, his face unreadable. Fuse was standing a little further back, looking nervous and unsure of what to do.

Jaggy stood in silence, his expression unreadable. Then, in a cold and distant voice, he said, "Forget it. Just leave me alone."

He gathered his belongings and left the premises, leaving Meili and Fuse in stunned silence. Kagawa, seething with anger, attempted to follow Jaggy, but Meili stopped him. "Please, Kagawa," Meili said softly, her face downcast, "Just leave him alone for now. We don't know what's going on in his mind, and he may need some time to himself. He's hurting, and we don't know why." As she spoke, she felt a wave of sadness and loneliness wash over her.

She could sense Jaggy's pain, like a heavy weight on her heart. Meili turned to Fuse, who had been watching the exchange in silence. Her face was unreadable, but Meili could tell that she was concerned about Jaggy. "Fuse," she said, "Do you have any idea what's going on with him?"

Fuse hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know, Meili. Jaggy's always been a bit of a mystery to me. But whatever it is, I hope he's okay."

They both looked over at the door, where Jaggy had disappeared. "Hey guys," Koko called out, "aren't you all heading back to the hostels? We should get going." She looked at Meili and Fuse, a pleading look in her eyes. She didn't want them to focus on Jaggy's distress, and she hoped they'd join her on the walk back. Lian, who had been quietly observing with koko the whole time, nodded in agreement.

The others reluctantly turned away from the doorway, and they all walked back to their hostels with koko and Lian, Meili's thoughts were still heavy with worry for Jaggy.

Since the enrollment some of the students have been able to create bonds and associate with themselves even more after been shared in groups within separate rooms in the hostels. As the students went their separate ways to their respective hostels, they said their goodbyes. Meili and Fuse headed to their room together, As they opened the door to their room, Meili turned to Fuse. "Do you think Jaggy is going to be okay?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern. Fuse shrugged, but she couldn't think about any word to say but " sure ".

"Hear this," Meili began, her voice soft and hesitant. "This may sound strange, but sometimes I feel I can sense other people's emotions and thoughts. It's like I can feel their feelings as if they were my own."

Fuse's eyes widened, and her mouth hung open in surprise. "Wow," she said, her words tinged with disbelief. "I've never heard of anything like that before.

"I know this is hard to believe," Meili explained, "but it's like my empathy is on another level. I don't just understand how others are feeling - I actually feel their emotions as if they were my own. That's what I sensed from Jaggy just now. There was fear and anger, but also a feeling of being trapped and unable to escape."

Fuse's expression softened, and she placed a hand on Meili's shoulder. "I hear you, Meili," she said, her voice filled with understanding.

"But regardless of whether or not you believe me," Meili continued, "Fuse, I don't want Jaggy to suffer alone. A true warrior doesn't just fight for themselves - they fight for those around them. Don't you think we should stick by Jaggy, and be there for him when he needs us most?" Meili finished with a warm smile, her eyes shining with determination.

Fuse paused for a moment, taking in Meili's words. Then, a smile spread across her face. "You're absolutely right, Meili," Fuse replied, her voice filled with newfound conviction.

Meili's smile grew even wider, and she let out a small laugh of relief. "I'm so glad you understand," she said, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "It's good to know we're on the same page, am glad I made friend like you."

Fuse's eyes widened, and she felt her heart swell with emotion. She fought back tears, not wanting to show any weakness in front of her friend. "Goodnight, Fuse," Meili said softly, her voice quivering with emotion. "Goodnight, Meili," Fuse replied, a lump forming in her throat. They laid on their beds, both feeling a deep sense of friendship and gratitude towards each other.

Jaggy continued to feel down and dejected, his mood not improving despite the passage of time. His roommate, Ryou, seemed unbothered by Jaggy's situation, the two of them having little in common and sharing few words.

Miss Mei, meanwhile, hoped that Jaggy would find a way to resolve his problem, and that all her students would learn to get along with each other. She understood that building friendships and a sense of community was just as important as teaching martial arts.

The next morning, the students woke up and prepared for another day of training at the dojo. Fuse opened her eyes to see Meili already dressed and ready to go, standing at the foot of her bed. "Time to get up, Fuse!" Meili said with her usual cheerfulness. "We've got a busy day ahead of us." Fuse groggily sat up and began to get ready for the day.

As they made their way to the dojo, Meili and Fuse spotted Lei walking by herself. Meili waved and said, "Good morning, Lei!" but Lei's expression was icy and indifferent. "Uh, good morning," she replied, clearly uninterested in engaging in conversation. Undeterred, Meili asked, "Would you like to walk with us to the dojo?" but Lei immediately shot back, "No thanks. I don't need to hang out with you. Leave me alone, Meili." She sounded angry and irritated. Shocked by Lei's harsh response, Meili and Fuse looked at each other, unsure what to do. They had hoped to build a friendship with Lei, but it seemed like that wasn't possible. They continued on their way to the dojo, feeling confused and a bit hurt by Lei's attitude.

As they walked, Fuse said to Meili, "I'm not sure what we did wrong. We were just trying to be friendly." Meili sighed and replied, "I know, but I guess Lei just doesn't want to be friends with us." Meili continued with smile edging on her face " But I'm sure she'll come around another time, it's all a matter of time. We'll all become close comrades." Fuse gave Meili a small smile. "You're an optimist, aren't you?" she said. "I admire your determination to see the best in people. I hope you're right, and we can all become friends." They continued walking, their moods lifted by Meili's optimistic outlook.

As Meili and Fuse entered the dojo, they were met with the sight of senior students engaged in combat training. This seemed unusual, and the girls wondered if they had come at the wrong time. Koko and Lian were nearby, watching the students in action. When Meili and Fuse approached, they asked what was going on, but Koko and Lian were equally puzzled. "Maybe we should wait for Miss Mei," Koko suggested. "She'll be able to tell us if there's been a mix-up or something."

"Hey, look at that," Lian said, her voice trembling slightly. "The seniors are really going at it. Isn't this a bit too intense?"

Meili nodded in agreement. "They're certainly going all out," she said. "I wonder if we'll have to fight like this someday."

As they watched the senior students, they couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by the thought of having to participate in such intense combat. The ferocity of the battle before them made them question whether they would ever be able to reach that level.

Just as they were lost in their thoughts, a voice broke the silence. "What are you guys talking about?" Lei asked, her curiosity piqued. "Have you never seen elite warriors train before?" she continued, her tone a bit condescending. "Of course they train intensely, to prepare themselves for the battles ahead. Don't tell me you're scared already?"

Fuse looked at her with a mix of irritation and surprise, while Meili and the others simply stared at her in disbelief. "Quiet!" the Si-Fu commanded, his voice stern and authoritative. "You're disrupting the concentration of my students who are preparing for their celestial warrior challenge so that they higher their ranks to edge closer to becoming full fledge Dragon Warriors. Your presence here is a distraction, and I must ask you to leave immediately."

"Oh no," Koko said with a grimace. "You guys are in big trouble now."

"Please excuse us, Si-Fu," Lei said, trying to salvage the situation. "We didn't mean to cause any trouble. We're just happened to have training here and now as well."

The Si-Fu's face was like thunder, and he fixed Lei with a steely glare. "And who do you think you are, interrupting my senior students like that?" he barked. "And what makes you think you have the right to tell us to abandon our training here?"

Lei swallowed hard and squared her shoulders. "I am Lei Hanzo," she said, trying to sound confident despite the tremor in her voice. "So you're Lei Hanzo," Zabuza said, his voice dripping with disdain. "The granddaughter of Shimon Hanzo, no less. I must say, I didn't expect a spoiled brat like you to be his kin. It's obvious that you don't have what it takes to be a true Kung Fu warrior of any kind. You lack the discipline and the spirit. You carry yourself like a child, and it's written all over your face."

"I'm Zabuza Tokugawa," he continued, his voice resounding through the dojo. "I fought in the Great battle of Wushu Guan, where these students you see today were children. They have grown and matured since then, having faced loss and pain, and through my guidance they have learned the true meaning of being a Kung Fu warrior. It is an honor to have them under my tutelage, and I will not allow anyone to disrespect their hard work or the values of our art. Do you understand?" Zabuza asked, his tone stern and intimidating. Leaving Lei tense and disheartened.

""That's enough!" Mei interjected, stepping in between Zabuza and the others. "Zabuza, I can't believe you're yelling at these kids like that. It's not like you at all."

Zabuza let out a deep sigh and turned to Mei. "So these are your students?" he asked, his tone full of disdain. "It all makes sense now." Without another word, he ordered his students to leave the training hall, leaving Mei and her students alone.

The atmosphere was tense as Mei's students looked up at her expectantly. "Alright, Mei," Zabuza said, his voice firm. "Since this is your time, I'll take my leave. But let me leave you with one piece of advice: These Children haven't been exposed to the realities of wars and chaos plus I know with you as their mentor they are being pampered during training, they won't make them great warrios? It's all just a formality. They won't truly become warriors without some scratches and bruises - they need to feel the thirst for survival. That's the only way they'll become true warriors. So, I suggest you test them on Shaoshi Mountain. They don't need to climb to the top just around the first stages in the forest, but they need to know what it's like to fight for their lives.

Mei considered Zabuza's words carefully. She knew that he was a highly respected warrior, and his words carried weight. But she also knew her students well – they were all good-natured and kind, and she wasn't sure if they could handle the harshness of the mountain. Still, Zabuza had a point – her students needed to experience some hardship if they were to truly become great warriors. She pondered for a moment, then finally made her decision.

"I have to respectfully disagree, Zabuza," Mei said firmly. "These are my students, and I know how best to teach them. It may be true that hardship is an important part of becoming a great warrior, but I believe there is a time and place for that. Right now, my students need to learn the fundamentals and build their foundation. Only then will they be ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead." she said, turning to face her students.

Zabuza nodded curtly. "If that's your decision, Mei, I'll leave it in your capable hands to train your students. Just know that I'm always here if you need any help," he said before turning to his own students. "Let's go, everyone. We have our own training to do." With that, Zabuza and his students left the dojo, leaving Mei alone with her class.

As Mei watched them go, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind. She knew that Zabuza was an experienced warrior and his advice was worth heeding, she couldn't help but think deeply on what lies ahead of her and her new friends.

"Alright, everyone!" Miss Mei called out, her voice steady and confident. "Let's get started!"

As the class began, Mei could feel her doubts fading away. Meili glanced around the room and noticed that Jaggy and the rest of the boys were missing. This was highly unusual, and Meili couldn't help but feel a sense of worry. Had something happened to them? Then, just as she was about to voice her concern, the door opened and the boys walked in, led by Jaggy.

Jaggy's face was unreadable, but Meili could sense that mood seemed better than the other day. He sat down in his usual spot, and the other boys followed suit. "Alright class, now that we're all here," Mei began, her eyes resting on Jaggy for a moment before moving on to the rest of the group. "Let's begin today's lesson. I'm going to go over some basic techniques with you, and then we'll break into pairs to practice them." She smiled at the group, trying to put them at ease. "Let's make this a fun and productive session, okay?"

Lei stood up abruptly, her face flushed with anger. "Miss Mei," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "Who was that man?" She couldn't keep the hurt and indignation out of her voice.

Miss Mei paused for a moment, then responded in a calm but firm tone. "Do you mean Si-Fu Zabuza?" she asked.

Lei nodded, her eyes blazing. "Yes, Si-Fu," she said. "He insulted me , and I won't stand for it!" Her fists clenched at her sides, and her whole body trembled with barely-contained fury.

Koko interjected, her voice quiet but Cheeky. "I don't think he actually insulted you particularly. But anyways he insulted each one of us so…",. Lei shot back immediately" shut up, I'll make him eat those words "."I understand your ambition, Lei, but I'm not sure your plan is realistic," Miss Mei replied with a hint of caution in her tone. "Si-Fu Zabuza is a powerful and experienced warrior, and his mastery of the earth element is unmatched. He has years of training and experience under his belt, and I don't think you're quite ready to take him on. I was once his student too, y'know. You have a lot of potential, but I think you need to focus on honing your skills before you start challenging opponents of his caliber."

Lei's face fell, but she stubbornly held her ground. Lei considered Meili's words for a moment, and then responded, "Si-Fu, I was not planning to taking Si-Fu Zabuza head-on. I just want to show him that we are not just pesky brats. I want to go to Shaoshi Mountain to prove myself, not to fight Si-Fu Zabuza." She spoke with conviction, her words echoing the strength of her will.

Huh!

Meili and the others stared at Lei in disbelief, stunned by her bold statement. The silence was broken by Kagawa, who asked, "What is Shaoshi Mountain?" No one responded. Kagawa and the others who had come late to the dojo were totally out of the loop, clueless about the conversation that had just taken place. Miss Mei pondered Lei's proposal, her mind racing with both admiration and concern. Finally, she spoke, "I admire your passion, Lei, but I can't in good conscience send you and the others on such a dangerous task.

Meili rose to her feet, "Si-Fu, please hear us out," she began. "Lei and I have our reasons for wanting to do this. The words of the man cut us deep, and we are determined to prove him wrong. We cannot let his narrow view of what it means to be a warrior define us. To us, a true warrior is someone who protects and leads their comrades, someone who brings peace to their people, and someone who never gives up.

As Meili paused, the room was filled with an expectant silence, broken only by the sound of Miss Mei's voice. "Please hear me out," she began, her tone gentle but firm. "While I appreciate your passion, I can't in good conscience allow you to attempt such a dangerous mission right now." Meili's words were met with looks of disbelief and disappointment from the others. "But," Miss Mei continued, holding up a hand to forestall any protests, "I will train you all for at least a week. During that time, I will teach you to control your chi and activate your special abilities. Then we at least consider going there."

As Miss Mei finished her speech, the students looked at each other with wide eyes and smiles. "Yes, thank you, Si-Fu!" Meili exclaimed, her voice full of excitement and relief. Lei clenched her fist, feeling a sense of victory and pride. If she could master her chi and develop her special abilities, she would be able to prove herself not just to her fellow squad mates, but to Si-Fu Zabuza as well.

Ryou, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up. "But what does that mean exactly, aren't we gonna know what's going on?" he asked, his voice loud and clear.. So Miss Mei and the others filled them in on what went on and what they would be up against.