Kimiko had found the book while perusing the Internet one day. She had gotten bored and thought it a good idea to do a little dive into the lives of Xiaolin histories before her. Fung had dropped hints about the past, and with the constant hunt for Shen Gong Wu it was hard not to learn about Dashi. Other than that however, she noticed there wasn't much else mentioned about the times since Ancient China and today. Therefor it was time to consult Google.
The results were scarce at first. Mostly lessons on martial arts that if she wanted to learn she could have simply gone outside. Twirling a piece of hair around one of her manicured fingers, the Japanese girl pouted slightly. There just had to be something. Anything, how could this be such a massive phenomenon, and yet stay so hidden? It wasn't until she came across a peculiar book store site that she found something. Memoirs of a Dragon by Ruan Yue. There were no reviews, nor information on the author. The only thing the website had to say about it was the price, the fact that limited copies were produced, and how it told fairytale like stories about a young girl's life growing up in a temple that turned into a nightmarish relationship with destiny. It was better than nothing, so after filling in some information the book was ordered.
3 weeks Kimiko kept an eye out for the book to arrive. Not having a code to track the package made the technophile nervous it would never come. A month after ordering however, the book arrived with a hand written note from the bookstore owner, providing her a coupon if she chose to buy from them again. Shoving the note into her pocket Kimiko walked into the dining hall with the book.
"Hey, what's that you got in your hands Kimi," Raimundo looked up, using a utensil to point at the object of which he spoke. Putting the book on the table Raimundo scanned the cover. A light red faux leather bound book with it's title written in gold Chinese Calligraphy. Some areas of the wording looked rushed, but the last stroke, that one for the Author's name showed the most signs of panic, even looking unfinished. "Ruan. Where have we heard that name before."
"I'm hoping to find out," Kimiko took the book back, opening it to the first page. "I was looking online for Xiaolin stuff and found this. Perhaps this will answer some questions Master Fung won't. For my fallen friends, and those who take their place. Know that I am sorry for betraying you. I wonder what that means" Kimiko searched the book for information, flipping to a random page. "The night I ran from home was the scariest moment I had experienced up to that point in my life. I stole one of the horses from the temple and kept riding. If caught, I'd never be able to leave, but I've spent all my life in the temple and needed for a moment to escape," Kimiko read. "The monster was there to greet me at his den, a cave he resided in where up to this moment he lived alone. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but for a moment to not be considered the daughter of a famous monk was all I craved. This creature may have known I was a dragon in training, but due to our previous meetings I had hoped they saw me as an equal."
"So she'd rather risk her freedom for the chance to be consumed by a monster," Raimundo perked an eyebrow. Snatching the book from Kimiko he skipped a few more pages. "The look on Zhou's face hurt when he saw me at the side of our once enemy. To know that the lips of his once lover came into contact another was without a doubt painful. To this day I still had feelings for him, and yet also so enamored by this monster in the moment I didn't care. He released me from our lover's embrace before charging at Zhou. Despite training for years together I could not find it in my heart to strike my brothers in arms. Ling tried to strike me but I think he was perhaps too shocked by my conversion to the Heylin side." As it would seem, Raimundo knew of a story perhaps too similar. "So there's been multiples who've left the temple. Huh," opening up to another page he read aloud again. "It took some talking, but the monster allowed me to go through the mourning process. I knew they wouldn't let me into the temple, so I watched each day of my father's funeral from a distance. My father, the great Xiaolin master who was the perfect example of what was both right and wrong about this endless war was killed off by the creature whom I thought I loved. A murder which I carry guilt for every day. My beloved father. A dragon of air, hero to all those who knew him, Grand Master Das- wait what," Raimundo threw the book to the table, eyes growing wide. "My beloved father. A dragon of air, hero to all those who knew him was killed by not just a man whom he once called brother, but dragged to what would be his death by the daughter whom he swore to always protect."
"We need to ask Master Fung about this. He has to know if this is true, or if it's just a bunch of bologna. You think we would have heard something about Yue before, or that we would have read something," Kimiko had laced her hand through a portion of her soft black hair. Part of her feeling betrayed by the fact so many secrets were kept inside the temple walls. "If it is true then we need to learn more. Who was this woman, and how many more answers does she have for us?"
"Should we tell Clay and Omi about this," Rai raised his brow, watching as Kimiko snatched the book.
"You know how gullible Omi could be. If the monster she speaks of is who I think it is, who knows how he'll react. I mean, the place I bought this from described the book as a collection of fairy tale type narratives. For all we know this could be like that one book, the one about the teenager who runs away from home after developing a drug addiction. I think it was called Go Ask Alice... the audience believed it to be a real diary, but later it was revealed to be written by a psychologist. Clay... maybe," tapping her chin she thought. "All we can be certain of is that this does exist. And there are many questions to be asked."
"And what type of questions would those be Kimiko," the voice made her jump, turning around Kimiko presented the book to Master Fung.
"I found this online. Master Fung. Are the stories in this book real," watching their mentor flip through the pages, Raimundo and Kimiko needed some type of approval.
"That they are Kimiko. But I must ask you don't tell the others what you've learnt. This book contains information I was going to hold off telling you young monks for just a few more months. Not because I don't think you could handle it, but because of Yue's personal request," putting the book into his sleeve, Fung gave the two of them a look. "For now, I am willing to answer questions, but you cannot tell the others. Do you promise." The two young monks nodded.
"Master Fung. Who was she? Is she still alive? Is this monster who we think it is?" Kimiko slumped into a chair, searching her mentor with faded breath.
"She used to be a dragon of Earth, trained personally by Master Monk Guan before she ran away with the beast, who still sometimes shows up. If you're referencing to Chase Young, yes. Also no. She died almost 18 years ago here at the temple, but not before finishing this."