Hey! I just decided I needed a change of category, so why not Xiaolin showdown? :) It's Raikim, and it involves some action, maybe not so much this chapter, but I've finished the other two chapters already, whether or not I post them depends on the feedback I get, so don't forget to review!!
Disclaimer: Don't own Xiaolin showdown.
Hm, have I missed anything? No? Okay then, let's continue!
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A gentle smile planted itself on Kimiko's lips as she stared up into the sky above her, picking out constellations that she knew. As a child, she had always experienced delight from star gazing. When she took a break from her electronics, and she needed to be alone for whatever reason, her attention would always come to star gazing. Her father had told her that before she was born her mother loved looking at them, he said she was always wondering what was beyond the boundaries of space. Tonight happened to be one of those times that she was in desperate need of mind clearage as she shifted to make herself comfortable on the grass. Gradually, the bottomless blue sky evolved into a purplish haze. In several hours the sun would find the sky and the soft morning dew would dominate the plants in all its shining glory. She propped herself up against an old tree beside herself as a sigh escaped her blossom-pink lips, as she fondled with her panda-patterned nails. Her Celeste orbs of vision echoed the moonlight in response as she pondered her predicament. Is this a mutual feeling between us? Can there even be a relationship between two dragons? She released another puff of air from her petite mouth banishing stray pieces of hair from her face. Just as she decided to stand and have yet another useless attempt at resting in her cubicle she heard a cough; whether or not it came from a friend or foe she had yet to realise. She placed herself in Fire-Defence-Mode before continuing to wonder: Who has the shroud of shadows? She was again brought out of her trance by the snapping of a twig behind her, and a quiet foreign curse. She immediately knew who was behind her. She dropped to the ground, slide kicking and tripping up the culprit as the shroud made its way to her hand with ease.
"Ow, Kimi. What was that for?" She glared grudgingly at him.
"Here's another question for you, how long have you been here?!" She angrily whispered aware of the whole temple being in slumber. She shook her fist in his face like it was a bomb about to explode as he backed up, preparing himself to explain.
"Not long, I-I couldn't sleep so I just….you know, went to talk to you, but you weren't there so, then I found you here."
After Raimundo made amends Kimiko dropped her arms to her side and replied with a simple "Oh," she blushed fiercely, however, she calmly resumed sitting on the hill as she patted the seat beside herself. "Room for one more?" She asked more hopefully than she'd wished to. He gratefully smiled and sat next to her, brushing shoulders with her. Kimi felt a slight awkwardness between the two and searched for some conversation.
'So Rai, what did you want to talk to me about?" Now it was his turn to flush.
"I….Um, had a bad dream…We, uh…"He seemed to think for a while. "Lost some Wu…" She knew fully well he was lying, whenever he did it to her in particular, he always appeared to mess up. In a way, that made her smile, he was cute when he was nervous. She had no idea why, but not long after he told her about the dream, she placed her head on his shoulder and snuggled up to him in the moonlit darkness. Kimiko frowned, thinking that even for a second, he may have tensed, but then decided it was a figment of her imagination as he soon loosened up and eventually returned the gesture by placing his head on top of hers. Just as he was sure the steady but heavy breathing coming from her mouth seemed a large indication she was sleeping, she popped a question.
"Rai? Can I ask you something that might seem totally predictable?"
He jumped, but replied "Sure, take a shot…" She tried not to falter, but failed miserably.
"Have you ever-you know, fallen in love with someone?"
He thought long and hard about his answer, before turning to face her right in the eyes. "Depends on the definition… Do you think you've ever fallen in love?" She frowned, procrastination attempting to hold her prisoner, but to no avail.
"I dunno, I always felt that…Love was, being so close to somebody that, you had them on your mind while they were with you, and without you, their smile brings joy to each and every day you live, and the thought of them not being with you leaves you restless. I don't know if, I've ever felt that way." She stifled a yawn, repositioning herself on Raimundo's shoulder again. "But I hope I will someday…maybe..."
He questioned her definition, and just as he found himself ready to answer her, he was sure she slept comfortably this time; her light snoring was music to his ears as he picked her up and headed to her room. He placed her onto her sleeping arrangements and covered her shivering body with some sheets, before returning to his room, thinking some more about Kimiko's views on the emotion.
'So that's love huh, not a bad thing' he muttered as he lay over to dream, and although her cubicle was two rooms away, the shoku warrior found himself wishing his best friend a good night.
"G'night Kim…"
'Night Rai…'
Kimiko stirred restlessly for what seemed to her an eternity, as her dreams were not pleasant. She bolted upright in bed, beads of sweat trickling down her face. For the second time that night she felt another's presence.
"Who-Who's there?" She called, with no response.
Kimiko left her cubicle in search of the noise, Raimundo, Clay, and Omi, were all still in bed. She shook Raimundo, with no luck, because he was a heavy sleeper.
"Come on Rai, I can't take this alone!" He brushed her off and rolled over, bringing her to the decision to leave him. Again, she tried to wake Clay and Omi, but received the same response as she had from Raimundo.
"Don't bother young monk, they can't hear you…"
"Show yourself!" She hissed, fire at the ready in her hands if she needed it.
"Sphere of yun!!" A strong voice bellowed, encasing Kimiko in a turquoise bubble of energy.
"Wudai mars, FIRE!!" She yelled, succeeding in nothing but enhancing the sea blue to an orangey prison. Behind her there were four gloat-filled chuckles that soon materialise into the bodies of her worst enemies.
"Chase young! Wuya? Jack!! And Hannibal-Roy bean!" She roared, again trying to slice her way through with a kick of fury; to her dismay, the ball used her energy against her, turning her a full three-hundred and-sixty degrees and propelling her into the opposite side of the secure orb. She sighed, suddenly feeling woozy and feeling the urge to sit and rest her powers. She obeyed her urge and lay on the floor, feeling extremely light headed. Kimiko turned around and lifelessly asked.
"What are your plans? Team up and try and get me to join you?" she met each of their eyes, disgusted at the murderous pride she found in them. Chase spoke up. "You're half right, but you're so blind I don't care to explain, not that I would even if you weren't so naïve…I suggest you begin savouring whatever strength you have left, because the moment you fight back, it will all be gone."
Again the four manically cackled while Chase clicked his fingers and they disappeared in a flash of blood-red light.
--
Rai jumped. Last night had seemed so…Real. After he put her to bed he recalled her waking him up, a hint of alarm in her voice, before leaving. The next thing he remembered was laughing and a cry of pain before he woke. Not hesitating one bit he ran to find Master Fung who was in the meditation chamber, watching over the shen gong wu. He opened one eye, directing it to the monk.
"Raimundo, you seem panicked, what is the matter?"
"Kimiko…" he panted. "I can't find her."
"Is she not in her quarters?" he raised an eyebrow.
He shook his head. "I think she's been taken. I remember-she was in panic" He paused, feeling the urge to punch something.
Master Fung stood, placing a firm hand on Raimundo's shoulder.
"Thank you for warning me, I have faith she is okay. Kimiko is extremely resourceful."
"Yeah," He muttered, staring at the ground, "But If I listened-"
"-Do not beat yourself up. Now, go and alert the other Wudai warriors to look out for any irregular disturbances..." With that, he turned around, sitting back down. Rai knitted his eyebrows. "What? You're not gonna do anything?"
"Until we know more, we can not do anything. Now do as I have commanded you." Although almost every fibre in his body willed him to bend the rules, and go and find her, he ignored them with all his might. Listening to those fibres had placed him in serious trouble on numerous occasions.
He swallowed, before replying "Yes master Fung." He bowed, and exited to find Clay, Omi and Dojo.
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Omi sat, head first on a rock, and Clay sat beside him, tying his rope into different knots when Raimundo found him.
"Hey-Hey chrome dome!" he commented. "I need you two for a sec!"
Omi lividly muttered something about master Fung making the wrong decisions and followed Clay to see what the problem was.
"It's a mighty fine day partner, what could be the problem?" Clay whistled.
"Hm, um gee…..KIMIKO IS MISSING!"
Raimundo glared at Clay as he and Omi gasped.
"Oh, I'm sorry Rai, we'll figure something out."
He looked away.
"How?"
"I reckon we should start as the scene of the crime." Clay smiled.
"Oh yes, most clever Clay, you thought how I would have!" Omi smiled bounding ahead to catch up with Raimundo.
He pulled back the curtain.
'Nothing out of the ordinary' he thought.
"Just one more reason I should be the leader!" Omi laughed, picking up an irrelevant object.
"Put that down little partner," Clay said putting Omi's hand on the ground to place the object back where he found it.
"Not a trace!" Raimundo yelled, clenching his fists so tight they turned deathly pale.
"I am most sorry Raimundo; I am sure she has just gone somewhere."
"Or, she was kidnapped! Don't you guys remember any of yesterday?" Clay completely ignored Raimundo's protests as he bent over, inspecting every inch of floor, leaving no nook or cranny unturned.
"Hey Clay, now's not the time to go through Kimi's stuff. We can do that after we find her."Rai reasoned, joining clay on the ground.
"Not so fast Rai, I think I just found a vital piece of evidence..." the cowboy pointed to a mildly singed piece of her cherry red mat, The ash still visible.
"The only way she could have done this was if she was not in control of her elements, which is...Never. Not since our first year."
"Which means there was a struggle?" Raimundo added helpfully, having calmed down slightly.
"Yes, we know that now, but from whom?"
The three boys pondered; Rai's facial expression the deepest, as he rubbed his chin in frustration.
" I suppose we should go and see Master Fung and update him."
" I believe, we are under the correct rail!"
"...On the right track Omi..." Rai sighed. Now was not the ideal time to try and teach his young comrade how to use slang.
--
Mater Fung nodded; processing the valuable information he had presently been fed. "Good job Clay; I shall see what the other elder monks make of this discovery. That will be all for now."
"But what if she's-"
"Raimundo, it was not a suggestion, it was an order." He turned regarding the dragon of wind's expression; his green eyes had lost their customary light, and were now clouded over with indecision and melancholy consideration. He began to continue on his way before stopped by Rai again.
"Wait! We can't just do nothing-"
"If you did search for her, would you know where to go?" He opened his mouth to reply but was silenced with a firm gaze.
"...No, Master Fung, I wouldn't." He scrunched his eyes up; it was clearly visible he hadn't taken the dragon of fire's mysterious departure as well as the Water and Earth dragons. This time Master Fung was able to slip away without any disturbance as Clay placed a comforting hand on Raimundo's shoulder.
"You okay buddy? Omi and I are gonna help ourselves to some grub, wanna come?"
"Nah, I-I'm just gonna catch some Z's."
"Alright," He removed his consoling hand and ushered Omi to the kitchen to find something to eat for lunch. As he walked back to their cubicles, he heard the distant sound of Clay trying to explain the phrase 'Grub' to the young monk. These sounds relaxed him slightly, as he lay down and reflected the last eventful few hours.
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I think Rai may be a bit ooc, but bare with me!
Reviewers will get...cookies! Who doesn't love the chocolaty/fruity goodness?