A/N: Yes, I started a new story. It's the opposite of my usual style, so let's see how it works out.

Some of you might have realized I deleted two of my other stories, and that is because I had lost all inspiration to write them. Somehow though, I found the inspiration to write this. Weird, considering how long this first chapter is. I'm not actually sure what the plot's about, since I wrote it when I was half unconscious and sleep deprived, but hey, I'm a spur of the moment kinda person. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing beside my ideas. And even those I'm not sure about since I'm positive my muse possess me every time I sit down to write.

Chapter One

It's starting to get hard to know what's dream and what's reality. They've merged together into one. They twist into things in my mind, and I'm not sure what to believe now. Am I still dreaming? Am I awake? If I'm asleep, will someone ever wake me up?

Can someone save me from this darkness, this impending doom which seems to hang over me like a thick blanket of mist? Is anyone even there? Can you see me? Can you hear my voice pleading for escape?

Please, come and protect me. I've always worked hard to protect everyone else, but now I need someone here with me to hold my hand.

Can you save me?

Can anyone save me?

Or am I still alone, lost in this endless abyss. I heard the sweet music, taunting me, luring me to a place I can never reach.

Do you understand? Because I don't think even I understand.

I'm trapped…

Save me.

Raimundo jolted awake, his hair and pajamas pasted to his body with cold sweat. That dream. The same dream over and over. Endless darkness, consuming everything. Why did he keep dreaming this? Why did he keep thinking of the darkness?

Or a better question would be; why did he keep dreaming of evil? Because evil is darkness and all he ever dreamt about nowadays was darkness.

He was Xiaolin Warrior. He should be light, be good. That what good was, light and hope.

Yet all he saw was darkness.

He slid out of bed and threw on a sweater. The halls outside his room were silent, everyone else asleep at this time of night. He tiptoed barefoot down the halls until he reached the door that lead to the courtyard.

He needed to think. Some fresh air, a starry sky, and his thoughts would be sorted in no time. Raimundo climbed to the roof of the temple and lay there, just staring up into the heavens.

Why? Why him? He was trying so hard to be good. He left Wuya for his friends, and even now when they were all wary of him, he was still trying to make them like him. He wished they would just accept him and stop doubting his abilities and his loyalty. Didn't they understand that he had been under a lot of pressure? Wuya came to him when he was already on the edge, offering him everything. Couldn't they see he thought it was the only path to take?

No. They didn't understand. No one did. No one knew what he was going through then. Not only did he fail to reach apprentice level, not only was he having second thoughts about if he belonged, and not only were the others making him feel horrible about them being apprentices and him not, but his life back at home was falling around him. His mother was dead, his father was dead and if the Brazilian Policia found out where he was right now, they would send him to an orphanage.

They didn't understand. Being with Wuya had been his only chance of survival.

But no one saw it like that. All they saw was Raimundo betraying them. Betraying them for his own selfish needs.

Raimundo buried his face in his hands, sobbing softly. He never let anyone see through his mask, but now no one was around, so he let it slip down, revealing his true emotions.

He had never felt more alone.

O.o.O

"Good morning Omi." Kimiko said brightly, greeting her small bald friend, "Sleep well?" Omi smiled brightly at her.

"Oh yes. I slept like a small child!"

"I think you mean baby." She corrected, walking towards the kitchen. Omi trailed behind her.

"That too!" The entered the kitchen and sat down at the table, piling their plates with food. Clay was already there and probably on his second plate. "'Morning y'all. Hey, have you seen Rai?"

"Hmm, no. Not since last night. He's probably still sleeping. You know Raimundo. He'll wake up eventually." Kimiko said with a shrug before taking a bite of food.

"Oh yes! Being a non-apprentice, he does not understand the responsibility of getting up on time." Kimiko nodded, but Clay frowned.

"You know Omi, this is just a thought, but you don't have to be down on Rai so much." Omi crossed his arms.

"Well, it is true."

"Still…"

"Oh, come on Clay," Kimiko intervened, "we're all thinking it."

"Well, nice to know you all have such a high opinion of me." Said a voice from the hallway. They all turned their heads and saw Raimundo standing there, his arms crossed. He had bags under his eyes and his hair was disheveled.

"Wow Rai, you look horrible." Kimiko stated. Raimundo sighed.

"I was up doing chores since early this morning." He walked over to the table and looked down, only seeing there was no food left. He sighed again.

"Sorry par'ner. Guess I ate a little more than I meant to." Rai gave Clay a weak smile.

"That's okay. I'm not hungry anyway."

"Well," Omi said, standing up abruptly, "The apprentices have training. I'm sure the non-apprentice will find something to entertain himself with while we are gone. Right Raimundo?" Rai blinked.

"Um, sure. I'll catch up with you guys later." He said softly. Omi strode out of the room boisterously, with Kimiko close behind him. Clay trailed after the two, pausing in the doorway.

"Rai…" Rai waved him forward, his eyes telling Clay to go on.

"It's okay Clay, I'll, uh, see you later." He attempted a weak smile and Clay smile back.

"Well, alrighty then." Once Clay left the room, Raimundo let the smile fade into a frown.

They still didn't understand…

O.o.O

"Good morning young monks. Today we shall be learning how to bend you elements into different animals… where is Raimundo?" Master Fung asked, staring down his three students.

"Master Fung, I thought this was an apprentice level lesson. Raimundo is not yet an apprentice." Omi stated.

"You are correct Omi, but just because Raimundo cannot do the things I am teaching, does not mean he cannot learn them." Master Fung rebuked. "Well, we have already wasted enough time. He shall have to miss this lesson. Now, let us start off with you Omi."

Little to the fours knowledge, Raimundo sat up in the highest tree, watching them as they worked. He didn't get why an apprentice could learn that stuff but he couldn't. He was just as skilled as them. He watched Master Fung explained the move, then, balancing on the tree branch, executed it perfectly.

His lips twisted into a smile when a small bird of wind appeared before him. He made it fly upward and down, then swoop over the heads of the other warriors. Finally, when he was done, he let it fade back into the wind.

Rai looked down to see how the others we doing. Omi had yet to make a full bird, Kimiko was having trouble controlling her form, and Clay couldn't get his to lift off the ground. Raimundo felt pride bloom within his heart when he realized he could do something they could not.

"Focus young ones. The key to this lesson is focus. Envision the bird in front of you, flapping its wings." Master Fung instructed. The three couldn't seem to manage it. Master Fung sighed, "Well, let us try a different animal perhaps. Kimiko, try to make a wolf." Raimundo, hearing that Master Fung had moved on to another animal, attempted that one as well.

A wolf made of clouds emerged on the ground, looking valiant and brave. It circled the base of the tree silently. Raimundo almost laughed with glee. It was amazing! It was like he could see through the animal's eyes, like he actually was the wolf made of clouds. He let the wolf roam randomly for a while, before calling it back and making the wolf die away. Glancing back at the other warriors, he saw that none of them seemed to be able to do it.

It made him feel good inside, even though the feeling only lasted a few moments before fading away.

O.o.O

"Hello Raimundo. How was your relaxation time? Of course, we apprentices had lessons…" Omi said, stressing the 'apprentices' part. Rai, who was sitting at the kitchen table reading, shrugged.

"It was fine. So what did you learn about?" He inquired. Kimiko opened her mouth to answer, but Omi quickly said.

"Ah, ah, ah." Omi wagged his finger in front of Rai's face. "It is only the apprentices who learn what we did. Perhaps when you too are an apprentice you will be able to learn what we have!" Omi rested his hand on Raimundo's shoulder. Rai frowned and shrugged it off.

"Oh. Well, what's for lunch?" Clay whipped up some pizza for the four of them and they all got ready to dig in.

"Shen Gong Wu alert kids!" Dojo yelled, knocking a plate of food off the table. Rai sighed. Typical it was his plate of food that got pushed down. "Oops." Dojo said sheepishly.

Rai waved his hand, as if dismissing the action. "That's alright. What's the Wu?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Oh right, this is the Sword of Embers. Kinda like the Sword of the Storm, but it shoots fire instead of wind. And it also will burst into flame." Dojo explained.

"Sounds like my kind of sword." Kimiko said, stretching her arms out, "So where is it?"

"Surprisingly, Rio de Janeiro." Raimundo grew stiff. "So come on kids, let's get to it. I want to be back for dinner." Dojo patted his stomach.

Oh Rio, my dear Rio. Why do you call to me so loudly? I love you so, but I can't return to you. Not yet. I fear… I fear if I go home, I may not be able force myself to return to the temple. But my sweet Rio, my sweet hometown. How could I have abandoned you?

I can't go to get this Wu, because if I do, I'll never return to this temple. If I go to Rio, the Policia might find me. And if they find me, then my destiny will be sealed. I will be put in an orphanage and I won't ever be able to come back. I know it's hard for me right now to be here at the temple, but it's better than any orphanage would be.

I can't go.

But if I don't, then what will the others think of me? Will they think I'm slacking off, or worse, that I'm turning evil again?

What do I do! What do I do!

I wish I could tell them what was going on, but then they'll think I'm weak, or worst, pathetic. They won't want me as a teammate. I'll be holding them all back. Maybe they'll even kick me out of the temple.

So it's decided, I have to go. But I can't get caught.

But if I go, I'll automatically be caught.

Which means I can't go.

But I have to.

AH! It's like a never ending circle! Is there any path I can take that won't lead to my demise? Does no one hear my voice screaming to be helped!

Please! I need help! How do you not hear my plea! I'm yelling to the heaven and yet you're all so naïve!

Help me! Save me! Get me out of this black hole that I'm stuck in! LISTEN TO ME!

And yet… no one ever listens…

"Rai, you okay?" Clay asked concerned. Rai nodded, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Yeah, fine. So are we going or not?" He asked. Dojo made himself supersize and the warriors climbed on.

"Ahem, apprentices first." Omi said, pushing in front of Rai. Raimundo frowned, but let Omi go first anyway. Clay, seeing the exchange between the two boys, placed his hand on Raimundo's shoulder and gave him a smile.

"Just ignore him Rai, he doesn't know what he's doing." Rai shrugged off Clay's hand.

"He might not, but that doesn't make it hurt any less." He said darkly before climbing onto Dojo.

O.o.O

"Alright Rio, here we come." Kimiko said, rubbing her hands in anticipation. "Hey Rai, didn't you live in Rio before you came to the temple?"

"Um, yeah." Raimundo mumbled. He didn't make eye contact with Kimiko, afraid she would see the emotions trying to break through them. His face was a mask of calm, but his eyes screamed the truth.

"Do you miss it?" She asked. He gave her a sharp glare, one filled with anger.

"Just leave me alone." He turned his head to the ground below. Kimiko blinked in surprise. Ever since Rai had returned to the temple, he had been different. Actually, it was before he even went evil. Ever since they all became apprentices and he hadn't, he had been more withdrawn, more bitter.

Well, if he was going to be like that, then Kimiko wouldn't bother. He didn't have to be all jealous of them. After all, if he had just listened to Master Fung then he would be an apprentice like them and he would have never gone evil.

So in Kimiko's eyes, it was his own fault.

"Here we are kids! Rio de Janeiro. Home of sandy beaches and the bright sun." Dojo shrunk back to his normal size after the warriors had jumped off and pulled out a bottle of sunscreen. "You kids have fun working on finding the Wu. While you're doing that, I'll work on my tan." Dojo slithered away, much to the annoyance of the other warriors.

"Well, let's get cracking. We should split up to cover more ground. Omi and Kim, you guys take that half of the beach, Rai and I will take this side." Clay said. Omi and Kimiko nodded and dashed down the opposite side of the beach. Raimundo and Clay went the other way, going noticeably slower.

"Y'all right Rai? You seemed mighty out of it for a while now." Clay said. Raimundo shrugged.

"I'm okay."

"Now we all know that's a little white lie." Rai looked up at Clay.

"Why do you say that?" Clay chuckled.

"I know you better than that par'ner. Now, why don't you tell me what's wrong."

"…Nothing. I'm fine." Rai persisted. Clay sighed.

"It's alright if you don't want to tell me." He said. Raimundo bit his lip, wondering what to say. He wanted to tell Clay, but he couldn't risk it. Clay was his best friend in the temple, but even Clay might tell the other warriors and Master Fung. And if that happened… Rai shivered, he didn't want to think about it.

"I do… I just can't. Please, let me work this out on my own." Clay nodded, respecting his friend's boundaries. But just because he respected the boundaries, didn't make him stop worrying. Something was wrong with Raimundo, something he wouldn't tell anyone about.

Clay halted for a moment, seeing Rai's eyes grow wide with fear. "We have to get off the beach." Raimundo whispered.

"What? Why?"

"We just do. Now." He said with air of urgency in his voice. Clay realized Rai was looking at a pair of police men who were studying them.

"Alrighty then, do you know anywhere we can go for the time being?" Rai nodded. The police had started walking towards them.

"Yeah… I know just the place."

O.o.O

"Where are we?" Clay asked as Raimundo led him through the backstreets of Brazil. Rai said nothing, merely stood before a door a knocked a few times. They had managed to lose the police a few streets back, but were positive that they were still being looked for.

The door was opened by a boy, two or three years older than Rai and Clay, with black hair and vivid blue eyes. "Who are you? Wha'ch you want?" He barked in rough English.

Raimundo responded hastily, if not a little afraid, "I am known as El Fantasma. I was told I'd be welcomed here." Rai's reply was in Portuguese so Clay couldn't understand it.

The older boy's expression changed from one of annoyance to one of surprise. "Are you for real?" He asked. Raimundo nodded.

For a minute, no one said anything. The older boy studied Raimundo, looking him up and down. "Well," he said, this time in English again, "I should'a guessed. You look just like Marcus. You can come in. But him," He jerked his head in Clay's direction, "He's gotta stay out here." Rai gave the boy a stern glare.

"He's my friend. If he doesn't go in, I don't go in." The black haired boy looked at Raimundo amused.

"…Alright, he can come then. But make sure he tells no one." Rai smiled at Clay and the older boy led them inside. "By the way, my name is Miguel. Marcus has told us all about you. Raimundo, right?" Rai nodded, looking pleased.

They were led into a room with a home interior. It was filled with beanbags, chairs, with a small table placed in the middle. A few kids sat scattered around, either talking or eating.

"Welcome boys," Miguel said with a grin, "to the headquarters of the Os Onze Ladrões!"

O.o.O

"Raimundo," Clay said, wary of the kids around him, "where exactly have you brought us?" Rai grinned.

"It's just like Miguel said. The headquarters of the Os Onze Ladrões. That means 'The Eleven Thieves' in Portuguese by the way. Don't worry, they know me. We'll be safe here until the Policia leave. Then we can get back to Kimiko and Omi." Rai explained.

"How exactly do you know these kids?" Clay asked surprised. Rai let his eyes fall to the ground.

"There's a lot about me you don't know about Clay." He said, before walking forward. Clay followed, bewildered by Rai's reaction.

"Marcus is coming to meet you two in a few minutes. In the mean time, we've sent out a few people to keep an eye on the beach. When the Policia leaves, you'll be the first to know. But that may not be for a while. Seems like they got a whole swarm of them out there waiting for ya." Miguel said, striding up to the two boys. Raimundo nodded in thanks, before plopping down into one of the beanbag chairs.

Clay was surprised. He hadn't seen Rai this genuinely happy since before the whole Mala Mala Jong thing.

Is it wrong that I feel comfy here? Should I not? I mean, these guys were my friends long before I came to the Xiaolin Temple. And they're still my friends. More friends to me than Kimiko or Omi are right now.

I still feel kinda… I don't know, deceitful. I know that I should have told Clay where we were going, and I probably should have found the others instead of running here, but the Policia were after me and it was the only thing I could think of doing! They had to understand that I couldn't stay there, or I would never be able to go back to the temple.

These people here would protect me.

They had to understand.

But they never do…

"Yo, Rai. Marcus said he'll meet you in his office now." Raimundo grinned widely.

"Office? Since when has Marcus had an office?" Miguel shrugged.

"Don't know. Guess he kinda just gave himself one. Anyway, it's this way." The older boy led them through a hallway and in front of a strangely normal looking door. "You ready for this man?" Rai nodded and Miguel opened the door.

The room was poorly lit, the only light coming from a small desk lamp. The chair was turned away from the door, so the only visible part of who they assumed was Marcus was his dark brown hair.

Then the chair swiveled around. And Marcus, who was about seventeen, broke out in a huge grin. "Raimundo!" He yelled delighted. He got up from the chair and embraced the younger boy. Rai hugged him back.

"It's great to see you again. Wow, you've grown taller! But look at you, still as scrawny as ever." He said, ruffling Rai's hair.

"Marcus," Raimundo whined, "You're embarrassing me." Marcus seemed to notice Clay for the first time.

"And who might this be?" Rai smiled.

"This is my friend, Clay." Marcus studied him.

"From the temple?" Marcus asked, switching back to Portuguese. Rai nodded and Marcus scowled, "He's the one who pushes you around? I'll skin him alive!"

"No! He's nice to me. The others are the ones who push me around, but he's my friend." Raimundo argued. Marcus paused.

"Well, any friend of Rai's is a welcome here… but if I ever meet that cheese ball you told me about, I'm kicking his butt into another dimension." Rai laughed.

"You do that. Clay, I never got to introduce you, but this is Marcus, my older brother."

O.o.O

"You have a brother!" Clay stated for the twentieth time, "You have a brother…"

"Yes Clay, we established that I do in fact have a brother, now I come, I'm hungry." Rai said, dragging him to the kitchen. Clay was still in shock. After all, the four Warriors didn't keep many secrets from one another, and something like having a brother isn't exactly a small detail.

Rai grabbed a cup and a pitcher from the fridge and poured two glasses. He handed one to Clay, "Try it. It's a special fruit punch that my dad showed us how to make. It's good and will give you energy." Rai said, taking a sip as if to prove it wasn't poisoned. Clay followed lead and found the punch was amazing, just like Rai said it would be.

"So, you have any other siblings I don't know 'bout?" Clay asked, wiping his lips with his shirt sleeve. Rai shrugged, not answering.

"Maybe." Maybe? That's the only answer Rai was going to give him? Maybe? Hmm, was it possible Rai had been right when he said there's a lot of things Clay didn't know about him?

"Yo! Rai-man. The Policia have fled. Beach is open. You two can go now." Raimundo set down the glass and gave Miguel a grateful grin.

"Thanks man. Maybe I'll see you again soon." Clay and Rai started to leave, but Miguel held Raimundo back and whispered something in his ear. Rai's eyes widened in surprise.

Was Miguel serious? Did… did they really want me as part of the gang again? I mean, they knew I quit after I left for the temple, and everyone knew that if you quit a gang it was quits for life. And they were even offering me my old position!

Would they seriously take me back?

No! I shouldn't be thinking things like this! I fight for good! I- I'm a Xiaolin Warrior.

Or am I? After all, no one accepts me. Even Kimiko hates me. They don't want me at the temple. I'm just dead weight to them. I'm useless. Maybe I should join up the gang again.

After all, the Os Onze Ladrões heard my crying, they heard my pleas, while the Xiaolin didn't. Could this be where my real friends are? I…

I need time. This is just too hard a decision to make right now.

Like most of the decisions in my life.

Too hard, too hard…

And no one ever is there to help me figure it all out.

But maybe now there can be…

"I'll think about it." Rai promised Miguel, who smiled.

"Good. We'd be glad to have El Fantasma back on the team." Miguel said, clapping Rai on the back before walking away. Clay raised an eyebrow.

"Who's El Fantasma?" Rai's eyes grew distant.

"An old acquaintance…" He answered, before saying, "Come on, we'd better go meet the others."

O.o.O

It took a few minutes to get to the beach, but once they got there they found out Miguel was right and the police had really left. But in their place there were two fuming Xiaolin Warriors. "Err, hey guys."

"Hey guys? HEY GUYS! Do you know how long you've been gone?" Kimiko screeched. Clay and Raimundo backed up nervously.

"Now just calm down li'l missy-" Clay started to say, but Kimiko sent him a withering glare.

"Oh don't you tell me to calm down! I expected you to be the responsible one Clay!"

"Listen, it's my fault Kimiko. I wanted to show Clay something and we got distracted. I'm sorry for taking so long" Rai butted in, taking the blame.

"Well, thanks to you two, we're lost the Sword of Embers!" She screamed. "Jack came and kicked our butts! Do you know how embarrassing that is! To lose to Jack Spicer of all people!"

"I said sorry already! What do you want me to do? Go get the Sword from Jack!" Rai yelled back.

"We wouldn't have lost it if you were here! You know what? We never argued like this when you were with Wuya! It was so much easier to do things when you were Heylin! We-" Kimiko slapped her hands over her mouth, realizing what she had just said. Rai had a hurt, shocked look pasted on his face.

"…Oh. I didn't know that was the way you all felt." No one said anything, but Kimiko looked at the ground ashamed. "Well, if that's the way it is, maybe it's better if I'm not a Xiaolin Warrior anymore. I've had enough. I quit!" Rai stomped away from the three very shocked teens.

"What have I done?" Kimiko whispered to herself, watching Rai's retreating form.

O.o.O

"Stupid warriors. Stupid Xiaolin. If they don't want me, then good riddance! I don't need them." Rai mumbled angrily to himself. "I'll rejoin the gang. They'll give me my position back. Heck, I should have done this a long time ago."

"Feeling inadequate?" A voice said from behind Rai. Raimundo whipped around, trying to locate the source of the voice.

"Who's there?" He called out. No answer, but Rai didn't put his guard down.

"Poor Raimundo. The Xiaolin don't serve your purposes anymore, do they? They've betrayed you." The voice echoed round the ally and Rai tried desperately to locate the voice.

"Show yourself!" He yelled, trying to sound brave.

A man appeared seemingly out of thin air. He stood before Rai, studying him with golden eyes. He stood tall, with long black hair and black armor covering his body.

"W- Who are you?" Rai asked, more curious than afraid. The man chuckled.

"My name is Chase Young. Yours is Raimundo Pedrosa, Xiaolin dragon of the wind. In training of course."

"Not anymore. I'm done with the Xiaolin." Rai said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"So perhaps you'd like to give the Heylin side another chance?" Chase said, holding out his hand. Rai eyed him suspiciously.

"I don't understand."

"I am offering you the chance to become my apprentice. You have already given the Xiaolin side a second chance, why not give the Heylin side one as well. You'll find we are much more… appreciative of your abilities." Chase said with a smirk. Rai started to move his own hand towards Chase's to shake, but pulled back last moment.

"But my gang…"

"They will still be here if you choose to leave the Heylin side. What I am offering you will only be offered once."

He's right. I've given the Xiaolin more than enough times to prove themselves. Maybe it is time I try out the Heylin side again. After all, no harm, no foul.

And the darkness has always felt better to me than the light. Maybe the Heylin have heard my pleas. Maybe they will understand.

I've waited long enough for the Xiaolin to hear.

Now I'm taking matters into my own hands.

Rai grabbed Chase's hand and shook it firmly. "You've got yourself a deal." He said confidently. Chase grinned.

"Perfect." Rai gasped as black smoke started to envelope the two of them. He saw his friends – former friends run forward, watching in shock at what was happening. They were trying to scream something to him, but Rai couldn't hear them. Rai watched in awe as black smoke covered their bodies, his beautiful city disappearing.

When the smoke cleared, he had arrived in a majestic looking cavern, filled with pillars of marble, fountains and waterfalls, and plants everywhere, "Welcome Raimundo, to your new home."

"This… this place is amazing! It's so beautiful!" Rai exclaimed, taking a few steps forward to examine more of his new home.

"I am glad you like it." Chase said with a chuckle, "Of course, I will have someone show to your room. You'll be given a new set of robes, one to fit your status."

"Status?" Rai asked confused.

"Of course Raimundo. You are my apprentice now." Chase said, walking away. Rai grinned to himself. He could get used to this.

O.o.O

"He 's done what?" Dojo asked shocked. The remaining warriors had been quick to explain why their last teammate was not there. Master Fung remained quiet, but it was clear he was just as shocked as Dojo was.

"This is… most disturbing. If Raimundo has truly quit, then we must find him and return him to the temple." Master Fung said, deep in thought.

Kimiko, trying to hide how worried she was for Rai, said, "Well, maybe we should just let him quit. It's not like he wants to be here anyway." She crossed her arms as if to make a point. Master Fung gave her a stern glare.

"It is not so simple Kimiko. The Xiaolin Dragons are only strong when they are united as a whole. If one leaves, then everything falls apart. You saw what happened when Rai joined Wuya. We cannot let such a thing happen again."

"Master Fung, why can we not just a get a new Wind Dragon? One who will do chores and train hard?" Omi asked. Clay wanted to whack him on the head.

"The Xiaolin Dragons are only born in times of peril. There is no other dragon of wind, nor will there be until Raimundo dies. The universe can only give so much to us. You were each given your powers for a reason. Fate looked into your heart and chose you to take this task upon yourselves. No one can replace Raimundo." Master Fung explained.

"But why would it choose Rai? Of all the people in the world, it chose the laziest, jerkiest, stupidest of guys." Kimiko said. Master Fung raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe there is much about him that you do not know." Clay's eyes widened in surprise. Hadn't Rai told him the same thing just hours ago?

Maybe there really was a lot they didn't know about their teammate…

"Come, we must start our search. Brazil will be where we begin."

O.o.O

Rai stretched out his arms, trying to get to make his new robes less stiff. They felt strange on him, like by giving up his vibrant red robes, he had been giving up a small piece of his personality. No, not his personality anymore. That wasn't him. This is who he was now…

But had he really made the right choice?

Someone coughed from behind him and Rai turned on the balls of his feet, ready to strike whoever it was. Chase smirked. "You're alert. That's good. Lesson number one; always be ready." Rai nodded.

"And what would lesson number two be?" Chase smirked again, realizing he had a wise student.

"Lesson number two is always keep your guard up." He said before jumping into attack. The two sparred for a while, Chase yelling out advice and comments on all of Rai's moves. Raimundo lost the fight badly, but Chase still seemed pleased.

"Well, at least you are not hopeless. You have skills and potential. The only thing stopping you is yourself."

"What?" Rai scoffed, "That makes no sense."

"You have been put into the mindset that you are not good enough. You have been taught that you are below others and can never reach the level they have reached. You have been convinced that nothing you do will ever be okay, so you have just stopped trying." Rai shifted his eyes to the ground, "Hmm… you were told to never ask questions and you were always held back as a child. Told that it is better to hide yourself in the shadows and act obediently than to allow your potential to break through. It is these things that hold you back."

"How do you know all this about me?" Raimundo asked with wonder.

"You are easy to read Raimundo. Your eyes tell your story."

Raimundo laughed harshly, "Apparently not that easy to read or the Xiaolin side would have known all this long ago."

"The Xiaolin side is composed of fools. They ridiculed you, pushed you and kept you from your potential." Chase said, "If they could see half of what I can, they would never have let you go."

"So, how do I become better?"

"I can teach you everything you will ever need to know. I can make you stronger than your wildest dreams. But I need your full obedience. And your full trust."

Trust? That's not something I can give easily. Because everyone I trusted in the last few years has failed me. They didn't hear me screaming for help. They took my trust and twisted it into something horrible.

But… Chase understands. He was able to look into my soul and see it crying. He knows why I'm hurting on the inside and wants to help me.

The Xiaolin never saw that.

That is why they no longer have my trust.

Chase…

Chase has helped me when no one else could. He saved me.

"Yes, Master Chase, you have my complete trust and obedience."

Chase grinned a grin that sent shivers down Rai's spine. "Good. The real training starts tomorrow."

Raimundo knew that even if he made the wrong choice, there was no backing out now.

Please, let me be saved…

A/N: *Looks confused* Alrighty... how the heck did I write this? Oh well, reviews feed the soul! One review to update is and has always been my policy.

Sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Like I said, sleep deprived and half-unconscious. I just have this urge to post it though and am too lazy to edit it.

Oh, and if people ask for it, I will put my other stories back up. Hopefully inspiration will strike and I'll be able to work on them again. I really do like The Traders and hope to get it back up and running eventually. I'll just have to push myself harder if I know you guys want it.

Again, review please!