A/N: Hey guys.... Sorry for making you wait such a long time for an update. If I ever take more than a month, everyone can PM me and tell me to get off my lazy butt. Though I am seriously shocked at the amount of reviews I got! I love you guys so much! I was in comatose when I saw them.
So, review replies! (Ya know the drill. Skip to the next A/N, or straight to the chapter if you didn't review. If you did, go ahead and seek out your name!)
angel-devil-2009: Thank you! Yeah, I love Chase too, so I make him a villain in whatever stories I can squeeze him into. Thanks for the review!
xEmilia.: *grins* Continued! Thank you for the review!
Nanny-panter: Aw *hugs* Whenever I get reviews like yours, I always remember them because it means I really connected to the reader. I can't tell you what path Rai will take, but I really hope you end up enjoying this story, and thank you so much for the review!
Firegirl 156: *laughs* Yeah, I'll take that as a complement. And even if I don't plan it, my stories always end up with pairing :P I just can't help myself. Lol, yes, pretty much all my writing it dark-ish, but you're right, this one happens to be a bit heavy. Hope you enjoy it anyway and thanks for the review!
Blindpaw: Thank you Blindpaw's sister! *smiles* I'm glad you like it!
FalseDivinity: *bows* Ah, but everyone is a critic. Last time my chapters are too short, now they're too long. Pssh, oh well. *pokes* And fine, fine, but we both admitted to copying from something else :P Thanks for reviewing!
Lanny9000990009: LANNY! *hugs* I missed you too! I had to start writing again because it was driving me insane not to! AW! I'm glad you like the chapter! Haha, my sister told me the same exact thing about Rai. Hey, what can I say? I like when he's wallow-y :P Thanks so much for the review darling!
silvermoondemon16: Haha, yeah, go ahead and whack Omi, *grins* He deserves it! Thanks for the review!
Luiz4200: Thank you for pointing that out! *laughs* I took Spanish for two years and still don't know the basics! Ha! Well, it's been fixed now! *grins deviously* No worries, I have that part all planned out already (not in this chapter unfortunately, but one to come) and your review majorly helped inspire it! Thanks for the review!
Allendra: Lol, I wonder as well! (Even though I'm the author, I know about as much as you do :P) Glad you like it (hehe, superpowerful Rai is the best!) And thanks fr reviewing!
xxFireWarriorxx: Des!!! You're reviews always manage to put a huge smile on my face! Hey, you can't blame Rai so much (He's like, what? Fourteen? Of course he's dumb lol) Haha, sorry! You know my thoughts on the annoying cheeseball, but I'm glad that I managed to portray him the way I wanted. And same goes for Kimi (but I like Kimi, hence what's to come *grins happily* you'll see what I mean) I'm glad you like the chapter AND always leave ridiculously long reviews! I love 'em!
bringbackxiaolinshowdown19: SIGNED IT!... I think :D
SilentDarkness101: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Oh, and thank you for the review!
Soruccio: Whoa! Italian? Seriously!? That's so cool! *grins* I guess you'll just have to wait and see if the Xiaolin will help Rai or not. Thanks so much for the review!
angel03618: Aw, thank you! Of course I'm continuing :P There's a chapter right under this lol. Thanks for the review!
Pearli97: I'm glad you like it! Hopefully, I'll not only make another chapter, BUT I'll actually finish this story! (eventually lol) And thanks for the review!
A/N: *looks up at review replies* Wow.... They're STILL long even though I tried to keep everyone's replies short! *smiles happily* Oh! And before I forget:
Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown. I have attempted to bribe the creator of the show with cookies into giving me Rai.... it didn't work. So, nope. I own nothing but my plot.
Okay, this A/N has dragged long enough. Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter Two
~Two Years Later~
Darkness. What I am, what I live for, what I've become. I breathe it every day and night and it has become the only thing in my life that matters.
Is this what being saved means? Darkness and goals of revenge?
So why does it feel so… wrong?
"No! I've taught you this move many times now Raimundo! Do not fail me again!" Sweat dripped down Rai's face as he struggled to perform a very difficult martial arts move. All Chase did was push him. When he had been with the Xiaolin, he had only needed to be better. Now that he was with Chase, he needed to be perfect. It wasn't a question, it was a fact. Perfection or nothing.
"I'll get it right!" Rai yelled back to his master, starting to execute the first flip. Then the second, third, on to the twist, one hand hold, push off… damn! Rai stumbled, falling straight onto his face. There was a sigh from behind him and Rai knew he had disappointed his master.
"Enough Raimundo. Enough. You will try again tomorrow." Chase said before out of the room. Rai waited until he heard the door shut close with a 'click' before pushing himself up off the ground. He stood there for a moment, silently, before releasing a scream of pent up anger.
Why wasn't he ever good enough! He tried and tried and tried and still he wasn't good enough! Not good enough for the Xiaolin. Not good enough for the Heylin. He was worthless. If he couldn't even perform this one move, what good was he to anyone?
With a tired sigh, Rai ran his fingers through his hair, leaning against a cold stone wall. It was times like this he missed Clay and Kimiko. Heck, he even missed Omi. But they were better off without him. They didn't want him. Nobody wanted him it seemed.
"Stop it." He mumbled to himself. He was sixteen. He didn't need pity, not even from himself. He didn't want to mope and feel bad for himself.
He wanted to be stronger.
No, he needed to be stronger.
He thought Chase had saved him, but all Chase had done was push him farther down. Before Rai had hoped there was someone out there who could take his hand and help him, but know he knew that people like that didn't exist.
He would have to save himself.
Since no one else would.
O.o.O
"Hiya!" Kimiko kicked high, aiming for Omi's big head. But Omi was fast enough to dodge and catch her leg midair. Kimi's eyes went wide when she realized she had been trapped and quickly lit her whole leg on fire, giggling when Omi yelped and removed his hand, waving it in the air frantically.
"Owww, that hurt very much Kimiko!" Omi whined, using his powers to freeze his hand in a block of ice. Kimiko giggled, until she caught sight of Clay's grim face from the corner of her eye. Her own smile faded as she walked over to him.
"Any news?" She asked, allowing a small amount of hope to seep into her voice.
"Nothing. Our lead was wrong. He wasn't there." Clay said sadly. Kimiko sighed. Two years of searching and all they had to show for it was their ever growing sorrows. It was like Rai had disappeared off the face of the earth. He was just… gone.
"We'll find him, Clay. I'm sure we will." She attempted to be optimistic, but ultimately failed. Everyone, even Master Fung, doubted now that Rai was out there, assuming he was even alive.
"If you say so, Kimiko." Clay said, walking away. Rai leaving had hurt the most out of all of them. At first he had gone all quiet and wouldn't talk to either Kimiko or Omi. He was mad at them for mistreating Rai when they hadn't even understood what he was going through. Eventually he lightened up to the two, but Kimiko believed he never fully forgave her for chasing Rai away. But the truth was, she didn't even forgive herself.
About a month after Raimundo's disappearance, Kimiko had snuck into Rai's room. It was a mess, clothes scattered all over the floor and his bed spread askew, but it was just like Rai to have an organized chaos to things. After a bit of digging around, she found his journal buried under his pillow. What she read still haunts her.
Why hadn't Rai told them about the trouble he was going through? Between everything with his family, not becoming an apprentice, and their constant teasing, it was no wonder he left. Why didn't Rai trust them enough to let them into his life? Were they really that bad friends, that he wouldn't even tell them he was an orphan now?
How could she continue being angry at Rai when she know understood the constant pain he felt.
He just needed someone to save him, to help him. She could have been that person.
Instead she drove him away.
Punch. Kick. Punch. Kick. Don't stop. No matter how tired I am, don't stop.
This is the only way to get strong. By pushing myself until I don't need help. Pushing until I'm strong enough to save myself.
I don't need them.
I don't need anyone.
I just need to be stronger.
Rai would practice for hours straight, never letting himself rest. Not that it mattered to anyone. Chase would hardly care if he worked himself to death. Actually, Chase would be thrilled by the prospect of it. Apparently Rai wasn't living up to his potential.
Anyway, Rai liked practicing on his own. No one yelling at him, no one telling him how to move. It was just him and the steps. Like a dance that Raimundo could dance forever. He didn't have to think when he practiced, it had become second nature. Each move blended into the next, a perfect harmony of offense and defense. When he was like this, Rai could forget where he was and who he served.
Here he was just Rai. Not Raimundo the orphan or Raimundo the dragon in training, not even Raimundo who is Chase Young's apprentice. He was Rai. Nothing more, nothing less.
If only he could always be just Rai.
O.o.O
Kimiko peaked out of her room, looking left then right to make sure no one else was around. Coast clear. Slowly, Kimiko crept out of her room and slipped into the empty one right beside her own. Rai's old room.
It was clean now, emptied of all the previous junk that scattered the floor and bed. But even though it was devoid of its pervious messiness, everything about the room still screamed 'Raimundo'! The posters on the wall, the surfboard leaning against the wall, the pictures sitting on the desk, and the soccer ball in the corner; everything she looked at reminded her of him. Tears swelling in her eyes, she crawled onto the bed, inhaling Rai's scent.
Kimiko wanted to scream. She wanted to yell and cry and swear that it wasn't fair! Why did he leave them!? Why wouldn't he come back? They, especially Kimiko, were sorry, so very sorry! They regretted their mistakes and didn't he know they couldn't live without him, that she couldn't live without him!?
She let out a soft sob, burying her face in the pillow. Didn't he know she couldn't live without him.
From the next room over, Clay let out a sad sigh, hearing Kimiko crying again. She had done this every night since Rai's departure. She blamed herself for him leaving, even though Clay and Omi constantly told her it was of equal blame. Clay saw Kimiko put on a brave face every day, but at night she would simply walk into Raimundo's room and break down. She beat herself up over him and Clay knew the only thing that would comfort her would be Rai's return.
Clay looked up at the ceiling of his room, waiting until he heard Kimiko's cries stopped before walking into Rai's room and carrying Kimiko back to her own. Kimiko was asleep, her face tear streaked and pale, but Clay knew that come morning all evidence of the previous night would be gone.
With a sigh, Clay walked back into Rai's room and fixed the pillow and blanket, before briefly picking up a picture from Rai's desk of the four of them smiling. It had been taken just before the Mala Mala Jong incident. Setting it back down, he mumbled, "Rai, parn'er, I hope that wherever you are, you're off better than us. Because without you, we're pretty much lost."
O.o.O
Rai placed the last object in his bag, his eyes quickly scanning the room to make sure there was nothing important left. He was getting out of here. He couldn't live like this anymore. Some might call it quitting, but Rai called it surviving. Though Chase's training did make him stronger, it was also making him weaker. Week by week Chase's abuse grew greater. He was suppressing Rai's potential, making Rai dependent on him. Raimundo didn't want that, and the simplest was to get out of it all, would be to leave.
Slinging the bag over his shoulder, Rai pushed open the door to his room and slipped out, tiptoeing across the hallway towards the front of the palace. For the first few months of his stay there had been guards everywhere, but now Chase trusted him enough to let him roam on his own. Rai already knew exactly where he needed to go.
The Wu vault.
Chase didn't keep many Wu, but he did save one that Rai needed right now. Two actually: The Sword of the Storm, one of Rai's best weapons, and the Golden Tiger Claws, Rai's ticket out of this place. It had taken Rai a while to figure out how the complex lock on the door worked, but after watching Chase do it enough times, Rai had learned. It was magic that was the key, and it was hard work for Rai to memorize the long, strange words perfectly, but eventually he had gotten it right. He mumbled them now and felt a small burst of pride when the door clicked open.
Rai strode into the room, knowing he didn't have much time now. Chase would know that the vault had been opened and come find him. His eyes hunted out the Wu he needed and eventually he found the Claws and the Sword on a shelf. He slipped the Wu onto his hand and tied the sword to his belt. Already he could see Chase's large cats pounding down the hallway that led to the room, but it was too late.
With a grin of success, Rai slashed open a portal and jumped into it with only one thought in mind.
Home.
O.o.O
Master Fung sat up suddenly from where he lay in bed, his eyes wide with surprise. "Something has changed." Master Fung quickly got out of bed and gathered the monks, proceeding to go to the Wu Vault which also served as a council room when needed.
"Did you feel it too?"
"Yes," Master Fung answered, "The powers of the universe have shifted. My only theory is that the Dragon of Wind has returned." This caused an uproar of disagreement amongst the monks.
"Obviously," One very loud and very tall monk named Monk Gyasta said, "A new Dragon of Wind has been chosen! The old one clearly drifted to the Heylin side and the universe has granted us a new ally!" Some agreed with the elder monk while others protested loudly.
"There can only be one Dragon of Wind in the world at a time. If there is truly a new Dragon, it would be because the last one died and we would have sensed his death if it had it happened. The universe would have shifted to the Heylin side until a new Dragon was chosen. But, the powers have shifted for our advantage." This came from another old monk, this one named Monk Ryo. Master Fung calmly listened to both sides, before voicing his own opinion.
"Whatever the reason for the shift of powers, we should be grateful that the universe is once again balanced. I agree with Monk Ryo and do not believe the former Dragon of Wind has been killed. Rather, I believe he has left the Heylin side. We must find him and convince him to return to the temple." Master Fung stood up and strode from the room, the other monks following close behind him. Only Monk Gyasta was left in the circular room, glaring at the spot where Master Fung had previously sat.
"Even if he does return, I will see to it that he is not welcomed here." He muttered darkly to himself before exiting.
O.o.O
Raimundo tumbled out of the portal, his breath getting knocked out of him when he hit the ground. But even his horrible landing could not ruin the joy he felt.
Brazil! My beautiful city! How have I survived this long without you? I missed you and promise I will never leave this city again.
After all, everything I could possibly need is right here. What reason would I ever need for leaving again?
O.o.O
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE IS GONE!?" Chase roared, his anger flaring out of control. "I specifically told you to watch him! How could he possibly have escaped?!" The tiger whimpered, scared of the dragon warrior's vengeance full wrath. Chase stood up from his throne and paced around the room, seething rage and fury. "He is the key! My plans are nothing without the pawns in place… Crow!"
A black bird swooped down from the ceiling, landing elegantly on Chase's shoulder before letting out a loud squawk. "Find him, "Chase commanded, "And report back to me when you do. Make sure he is still alive, for I will be the one to punish him. He will understand that it is not wise to betray me." The bird flew off, cawing piercingly as it swooped through the air in search of its prey.
Chase sat back down in his throne, his anger slowly simmering down until he was calm once more. Yes, Raimundo would soon understand the meaning of pain.
O.o.O
Raimundo walked through the city, allowing his fingers to skim over everything. He wanted to touch it, make sure it was real and wouldn't just disappear. Rio, his hometown that he loved, was finally his again, and nothing would ever make him give it up. He wasn't going back to Chase; never again would he make a mistake like that. What had he been thinking? Go back to the Heylin side? They had already disappointed him once, what possessed him to think that they wouldn't fail him again, like the Xiaolin did.
No, it was much better to be rid of all of that warrior and Wu stuff. It only brought him pain. The only things he had left was the two Wu he had stolen, his powers, and memories. Besides for those few things, he wanted nothing to do with the Xiaolin or Heylin anymore. They weren't making him strong enough, so he was going to someone who would.
Rai took a deep breath, standing before a wooden door that he had stood in front of so many times before. But never had he felt this nervous. He curled his hand into a fist and gently tapped it on the door, knowing that someone had heard it. Then he held his breath, too scared to even breathe.
There was a racket from inside, and a bit of Portuguese was yelled loudly. After a few seconds though, a disheveled teenage boy cracked open the door.
"You, what you want?" The boy said, not even looking at Rai. His focus was still behind him, spitting things in Portuguese at some girl with pink hair, who was yelling back just a furiously.
"Hello Miguel." Rai said, his voice quiet. Immediately the Brazillian boy stopped his shouting and turned to face Rai, a huge smile breaking out on his face.
"Raimundo! Mi amigo, I was wondering if you'd ever come back to us!" Miguel said,. "It'll be good to have our best thief back on the team." Miguel ushered him inside, ignoring the pink haired girl now, who was sitting on a chair, fuming. Rai cast her an apologetic smile and followed Miguel to Marcus's office. Marcus was just as enthusiastic to see him as Miguel had been.
"Mi hermano!" Marcus said, engulfing Raimundo in a brotherly hug, "How have you been? Has the temple been treating you alright?" He asked. Rai looked down at the ground, not wanting to explain that he had left the temple two years ago and joined the dark side.
"Um, yeah, it's been great. But I think I've had enough of that kind of life. I was wondering if my position was still open?" He asked shyly. Marcus placed a hand on Rai's shoulder and grinned.
"You hear that Miguel? El Fantasma has come to us asking for a position. Ha, we should be begging him to return to us! Of course you may join Raimundo, not only because you are my brother, but because you are the fastest kid I've ever seen. You still have those mad skills you had when you left."
Rai laughed and nodded, "Yeah, I still got them."
"Good, Maria and Nicolas are going raiding later. How do you feel about joining in?"
"Seriously? Of course I want in!" Rai agreed, happy to have been accepted back so quickly. Marcus nodded, like he knew Rai would agree.
"Okay, but they don't leave to tonight. I want you to go get some rest now, got it? Miguel will show you to a room you can stay in." Marcus sat down at his desk, which Rai took as a sign to leave. He opened to door to walk out, but before he could, Marcus said, "Raimundo… I am glad you have come back home."
Rai smiled, "Me too."
O.o.O
"So, you mean he left the Heylin?" Kimiko asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.
Master Fung nodded, "That is what we believe. If he has indeed left the Heylin, they we must find him before someone else does. Raimundo may be in a vulnerable state right now, easily swayed by whoever offers him the best deal. We cannot afford to lose him again."
Clay leaned back in his chair, a large grin on his face, "Don't you worry Master Fung, we'll have him back here faster than a pig on a mud slide."
"Good," Master Fung closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them and examining the three warriors in front of him, "Clay, Kimiko, you two will go to Brazil and search Raimundo out there." A frown quickly formed on Omi's face when he heard himself being left out.
"What about me Master Fung, why am I not going?" Omi asked, a small pout of displeasure on his face.
"I need you to stay here with me Omi, in case the Heylin forces attempt to attack us while we are exposed. Many of the monks will be leaving the temple to find Raimundo, and I fear an attack." A large grin broke out on Omi's face.
"Oooooh yes! I will keep the temple most safe!" He said happily.
"Master Fung," Kimiko said quietly, "What if we can't find Rai in Brazil?"
The elder monk rubbed his face tiredly, "Then we will keep looking until we find him. Do not lose hope young ones, I have a very good feeling about Brazil. We will find him there."
O.o.O
"Hey, Raimundo, man, it's good to see you again!" Nicolas, a tall, blond haired, brown eyed, teenage boy said, striding into the small room where Rai was staying. Rai grinned out his old friend, standing up to embrace him.
"Good to see you too, dude. How have things been?"
Nick shrugged, "Eh, we've done okay for ourselves. But with you back on the team, we'll be the top gang again! I can see the headlines in the papers already; 'El Fantasma mysteriously returns after disappearing for three years!' It's gonna be great man!" He said happily, high-fiving the shorter boy.
Rai was beaming ear to ear. He hadn't been this happy since over three years ago. To be accepted like this, unconditionally, was amazing. To them, he was a friend, not a tool, and he knew that even if he failed ever single mission they sent him on, he'd still be accepted.
This was his home.
Nicolas, who had never been one to understand the concept of personal space, was rummaging through Rai's bag. Raimundo hadn't packed a lot in his haste to flee from Chase, but one thing in his bag intrigued Nick.
"Hey Rai, who are these people?" He asked, holding up a picture of four teenagers standing together. Raimundo grabbed the picture from Nick and threw it back in the bag.
"They're no one. They're not important anymore." Rai mumbled.
Nick raised an eyebrow, but knew it was smarter to let it go. "Okay dude, if you say so. Come on, we have to start prepping for the mission tonight. If another gang shows up, it promises a good fight." He said, walking out of the room. Rai followed, but at the last minute, went back and grabbed the picture, stuffing it into one of his pockets.
Why am I taking the picture?! I don't need them anymore! They didn't want me!
This, this is what being saved means. Being accepted, being loved. No expectations, no doubts, but total understanding of one another.
So… why do I feel like something is missing?
Have I really saved myself?
A/N: *coughs* So I bet a lot of you guys are wondering what's going on, right? Yeah, well me to :P I write these things as it comes to me, though I'm proud to say I do have a sliver of a plot now planted in my head.
I apologize for spelling and grammar mistakes. I'm seriously too lazy for my own good XD
As usual, ONE review to continue (though it may take me a while to continue, I promise I really will!) I'll try not to take over a month this time. *looks nervous* So please don't come at me with pitchforks and torches! *ducks and runs*
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and ONE REVIEW PEOPLE!
