It was a warm sunny day, and the xiaolin warriors loved every minute of it. For the first time in months, there was no evil, no Shen-Gong-Wu, and no jack spicer and the warriors had been given the day off, well most of them. While Omi, kimiko and Clay enjoyed their day off their friend and new leader Raimundo was training hard. Having been made leader of the xiaolin warriors just a few weeks ago Raimundo was beginning the new training scheme that master Fung had made for him. Raimundo was a bit jealous of his friends as they where able to do what they liked for the day, they had no training, no chores and they didn't have to complete any tasks for the other masters. But deep down Raimundo knew that he had to train. When it came to battle the other warriors need to be able to count on him.
"Hey Rai how's the training going" Kimiko asked when Raimundo was aloud to take a break. She couldn't help but noticed that with all the training and years of life as a xiaolin monk Raimundo had got a great body and also was quite handsome. Unbeknown to the other warriors and monks kimiko had developed quite a crush on Raimundo, when she saw him she always knew that not matter what happened they would be safe as long as Raimundo was with them, and with him being made the leader of their little group she felt that even stronger now.
"hey kimiko it's alright, much rather be spending it with you guys, but then you know what I'm like" quickly Raimundo looked kimiko over ever since he had meet her Raimundo knew he had meet not only his best friend but his soul mate. There was something about kimiko which set his heart alight. She wasn't like all the other girls he had known in his life, she was techno-savy, quick witted and a skilled fighter as well as being short-tempered. But that didn't matter to him raimundo liked kimiko for who she was faults and that master Fung had returned Raimundo lent over and gave kimiko a quick one armed hug, then ran over to where master Fung waited for him.
" ya know I don't think I've never seen raimundo happy to train" clay said as he came up behind kimiko "when we all meet I swear I thought out of all of ya rai would be the first to quit"
"I concer clay raimundo seemed the lest able to accepet the life of a xiaolin monk when we first met, but now I belive as you say that he has finially found where he belongs"Omi called down from clay's shoulders where he was purched. Kimiko just nodded as she and the others watched raimundo training.
That night when all the temple was asleep kimiko snunk out of her small room and climed on to the top of the wall that surrounded the temple. Unbeknown to her raimundo had followed her.
"hey what you doing up there" he called up when he reached the wall. This starled Kimiko and she fell backwards in to the grounds, luckliy Raimundo caugth her before she hit the ground.
"thanks Rai, I was thinking about my parents and my life before I left my family for the temple" Kimiko said when Raimundo had put her down and both had sat under the nearby tree. Kimiko watched Raimundo as soon as she had said the word family his smile had dispiarred. "Rai did I say something wrong cos if I did I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you"Kimiko reached over for Raimundo's hand and held it frimly in her own.
" nah it's ok kimiko I just have some bad mermoires from when I was a kid that's all, listen can I tell you something and have you promise not to tell the others" Raimundo looked kimiko stright in the eyes so he would be able to tell if she lied. But when she said she wouldn't tell a sole he could see the truth in her eyes.
"when I was born my family where quite well off, we didn't have everything we wanted but we didn't have to have hand me downs, life was good I had two older brothers and I was one of a set of triples, there was me, my brother Link and my sister Grace. We where happy and loved. Then when mum feel pregent again things went down hill fast. Dad didn't want any more kids and he told mum that he had a op a month before so he couldn't have kids any more, and accussed mum of cheating on him. When mum told him she was 2months pregent dad didn't belive her, and called her a slut and hit her, at the time I was the only one home and I was only 3 but I knew that dads shouldn't hit mums." At this kimiko saw tears in raimundo's eyes but she kept quite so he could finish his story.
"So I stood up to my father and told him to leave my mother alone. That just made him more mad and he pushed me out the way and when I ran he came after me, when he caught me he manged to pull my arm out of it's socket. Mum was amazing she knocked dad out and called the police. They came and took dad away. Mum was able to put my arm back in and When my brothers and my sister came home we packed up everything and left. We went to my nans home at the local circus. We lived there for a while. Dad was releashed but warned he wasn't aloud with in 2 miles of my mum or us kids. So dad took off with all the money we had. Mum was so upset when she found out what dad had done, but the man who ran the circus was a old friend of mums and he told mum she could stay at the circus for as long as she needed to. So mum started working there as a cleaner and me and my siblings where looked after by everyone at the top. It wasn't long before mum gave birth that I had a go on the trapzee. The arcobats said I was brillinat and asked my mum if I could work with them in the shows. At first mum wasn't sure but once she had seen me perform she gave the go ahead."
Raimundo paused for a sec and looked up at the let the tears that had been treating to fall, fall down his cheeks in hot silent as quickly as they had come the tears where gone and in their place where eyes that had seen too much eyes.
"anyway a few weeks later mum went in to labor and had my three youngest siblings. DJ, AJ and Kimmy. We where all so proud of mum. We moved in to a bigger tent and cavan. For years we lived and worked for the circus, durning that time mum divorced dad and married the ring leader a guy called Jack. He's so cool he looked after us and treated my mum like a princess. He even adapoted us kids and told us he may be our father now but he didn't expect us to call him dad. But we did anyway. About 3 years after the weding when I was 8 our nan died. It really cut mum up and mum started drinking. Jack tried everything to get her to stop but it didn't work so he kept a watch on us making sure we were safe. One day when I was 9 about 4 weeks after my birthday mum passed away from a heart attack in her sleep. We don't know how but our father found out and tried to come back for us." Raimundo looked over at kimiko she was watching raimundo with amazed eyes. He knew she couldn't belive what had happened in his life. When kimiko noticed he had stopped she nodded her head to say carry on. So he did.
"When he found out that in mum's will she had left everything to jack including guradnship of us kids. He went belistic and kid napped me, Kimmy,AJ and DJ and said if he wasn't given everything left behind by mum he would kill us one by one. Luckly the police found out where our father was hidding and the police and jack came after us. There was a fight and not only our father but 4 policemen got killed and right in frount of us. Jack took us back to the circus and we lived there. It took a while to get over everything that happened. But with jacks support we did. Then master fung showed up and told jack and me that I was special and was the dargon of the wind and I needed to go to the temple to be trained or I would lose control and may kill myself. I didn't want to leave but jack told me he would look after everyone and if it didn't work out I could always come back home. Then before I left he gave me this madilion"
raimundo held up the madilion he always wore and showed it to kimiko. It had a simple design on it. A sprial. She nodded her head to tell him she'd seen it and understood. Kimiko thought that maybe that was the end and was about to get up when raimundo stared talking again.
"he gave one to me and one to all my brothers and sisters and told us that we are all linked on the journey that is life and one day we will all walk the same road. At first when I arrived here it was hard. Being away from my family, but evently I settled here. But I couldn't forget my past and when you guys got moved up and I didn't I guess my fathers blood woke up in me. I was starting to wish it was all over so I could just go home. But it was always the same that's why I joined the other side I wanted the fighting over so I could go home. But when you guys where going to be killed I…I... well I realised that you guys where part of my family to and I couldn't stand to lose any more family and well you know what happened . All this is the reason I never tried to be leader I didn't think I could. What with everything that's happened I was scared. But now, now that I am leaded you know what I feel as if a finally know who and what I am."
When she heard the last part of Raimundo's secret, kimiko was filled with a joy she had never felt before and before she knew what she was doing kimiko lent over and gave Raimundo a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks for confiding in me Rai, I know it must have been hard and I don't know how you ever thought you where never going to be leader. Rai you've had a hard childhood but so have some of us but instead of letting fear and anger cloud you mind and stop you from living your life, you dealt with your past and stopped it from changing you. Not only that but you stood up for you mum when you where only three Rai and if that isn't the sign of a great leader than I don't know what is"
After hearing Kimiko's word Raimundo felt a lot better. It was true he hadn't let fear and anger cloud his mind he had always forgave and forgot he had also forgave his parents for what they did. But Raimundo's thoughts where interrupted by Kimiko putting her arms around him and hugging him tight. Raimundo put his arms round Kimiko's waist and hugged her close and with out thinking buried his head in Kimiko's shoulder and for the first time since he was a kid had a good cry. Mean while kimiko just sat with her arms round Raimundo and held him. A few minutes later she noticed master Fung approach them.
With out a hint of worry Kimiko took one hand from around Raimundo and held a finger to her lips, to tell the teacher to be silent as he approached. Master Fung nodded to show he understood and stayed in the shadow of the temple. A few minutes later Omi and Clay walked out in to the yard and saw kimiko and Raimundo under the tree. they stared towards theirs friends but where stopped by master Fung before they could get too far. When they asked what was the matter master Fung told them to just listen. So they did and they heard the sound of someone crying. Startled they looked up at kimiko and saw she wasn't the one crying and there was no one else around so that must mean… when they worked out who it was the boys quietly walked up to the tree and sat down near Raimundo and kimiko and tougher they gently rubbed Raimundo's back to show him they where there and they where looking out for him.
Back down at the temple Mater Fung was joined by the other master. They didn't say a word but master Fung answered their question. " it seems Raimundo finally decided to confide in one of the other monks about his past, and it also seems that it has caught up with him" master Fung didn't look behind him but he knew all of the other masters where nodding and watching the three warriors comfort their friend and leader.
After a good hour of crying Raimundo sat up straight and looked at his fellow monks and said the first ting that came to mind. "Hey who's for ice-cream" the other monks started at him then at the same time all four of them bust out laughing. Kimiko got up and said "Rai maybe you should tell Omi and clay what you just told me, I'll go and get us all something to drink ok" and with that kimiko walked back to the temple. While she was getting drinks Raimundo told the other two about his past and his fears. Both Clay and Omi sat in silence listening they never butted in once. Raimundo had just finished his story again when kimiko came back with the drinks and master Fung arrived with blankets.
Omi was the first to speak when they and master Fung had all had a drink and settled themselves on a blanket "my Raimundo I did not know how hard you childhood had been I must say I strangely feel lucky that I never knew my parents. But I must ask why you never told us about your past sooner" kimiko, clay and master Fung looked at Omi why they wondered the same thing, they would never say any thing. At lest not while Raimundo was so close. When they turned their attention back to Raimundo they saw he had moved so he lay down and he had his head resting on Kimiko's legs.
"You know what Omi, I'm being to wonder myself but that only cos I feel better now that you all know" Raimundo had his eyes closed and if the others didn't know better they would of said that Raimundo was asleep.
At the same time the wind started to pick up the monks started to shiver, the monks looked at Raimundo his eyes where closed and he was breathing deeply. He seemed to be trying to clam the wind down. But for some reason wasn't succeeding. With out a thought kimiko started to run her fingers through Raimundo's hair. As soon as she did the wind died down and Raimundo seemed to be having an easier time of killing the cold wind.
When the wind was finally gone the monks noticed that Raimundo hadn't opened his eyes, which meant that he had fallen asleep. After a nod from master Fung, clay picked Raimundo up and placed their leader over his shoulder. Master Fung and Omi gathered up the blankets and empty cups, while kimiko brushed her self down. When all where ready the monks and master Fung headed back in to the temple. Clay placed Raimundo back in his bed then proceeded to bed him self. Omi helped master Fung clean the cups they had used, and then they both went to bed. All this time kimiko had stood in the entrance to the temple staring at the tree they had all been sitting under.
Kimiko had a feeling that someone had been watching them. THE feeling had started when Raimundo had rested his head on her legs. While the other monks had been watching Raimundo kimiko had gave master Fung a glance to see if he had felt it to. Master Fung had just nodded to kimiko's unasked question. So now kimiko waited in the front archway to see if anything moved in the temple grounds. After an hour kimiko decide to call it a night and head to bed. On her way she passed by Raimundo room. As she passed she was sure she could hear someone talking, kimiko pushed aside the curtin and looked in to the room and found the answer to the riddle. Raimundo was having a nightmare. As quickly and quietly as she could kimiko entered raimundo's room and pulled the curtin back in to place. She then crossed over to the head his bed and without knowing why she sat next to his head and procedded to run her fingers through raimundo's hair and wisper
"it's ok Rai, it's ok we've here and we are not going anywhere, i…" kimiko stopped if she went on she was bound to reavle that she had a crush on Raimundo. So she decided to leave but as she got up Raimundo graped her hand and just said stay.
Unbeknownst to her Raimundo had awoken when she had entered the room and he had decided to wait and see what she did when she thought he was asleep. He was surprised when she sat down next to him and started stroking his hair and tells him that everything was Ok. When she got Up To Leave, Raimundo knew he had to tell her how he felt now or he was never going to be able to do it. so as she stood up he took hold of her hand and laced his own finger in with hers, and pulled her down so she sat on his bed again.
"You know that you don't have to leave, you can stay, in fact I want you to stay, please Kimiko I need you to stay just for tonight. You're the only thing That Makes Me Want to keep fighting. I guess what I'm trying to say kimiko is that I…I… I love you kimiko and I want you by my side not just as a friend but as maybe … my girlfriend." when kimiko didn't say a word Raimundo opened his eyes and watched her face.
Kimiko didn't know what to say she had never ever thought that Raimundo may like her back, and now here he was saying that he not only liked her but loved her and wanted her to stay by his side cos she was the reason he keep fighting. With out a moment of hesitation kimiko leaned down and kissed Raimundo full on the lips. She wasn't surprised when he kissed her back with his other hand reaching out and then resting on the back of her neck. Kimiko's hand slowly ran up Raimundo's chest till it was over his heart.
After what seemed like years to the two warriors they parted. out of breath they just looked in to each others eyes, while they waited for their breath to come back. Each could see the look of love that they each held for one another.