I'm going to try and update a chapter every Saturday from now on. The reason why this chapter took a while to get up was because I have had a lot of studying and crap like that to do. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 2: Flaming Mad ( I know it's a lame title!)

Clay slowly opened his eyes and quickly squinted them as the bright rays of the afternoon sun blocked his vision. As he fully regained consciousness he was struck with realization.

"I-I'm still alive? How…."

Suddenly, he couldn't think about anything but the soreness he felt in the back of his head. As the pain began to subside, he came to observe his surroundings.

The first thing Clay noticed was that he was surrounded by a curtain of leaves, the bright ultraviolet rays peaking through them like a veil and quickly warming the cowboy's burly form. As he began to regain the feeling in his entire body, Clay suddenly realized that he was being suspended, that his back was being supported while his limbs were left to dangle in the empty air. Realizing this, he jolted upwards and looked down.

"How in tarnation!"

Below him the entire forest floor was spread out like a carpet of green and brown. Seeing how high up he was, Clay suddenly gripped in a death hold, hoping that his bulk wouldn't break the branch. However, he quickly relaxed again once he actually thought about it and realized that the branch was probably sturdy due to the fact that it held him up without giving the whole time he was unconscious, although Clay didn't know how long.

"How'd I end up here? Ah, my head! I can't remember much…wait!"

Now he remembered what had gotten him in this predicament. Dojo had lost control, and they were all flung from his back.

They were falling.

He heard Omi and Kimiko screaming…..

"WIND!"

Those words echoed clearly in Clay's mind. No sooner had Rai said that single word that he could remember feeling a sudden strong updraft. It had scattered them all this way and that, like soft petals blowing in the strong gust of a maelstrom! They were blown into different directions… that's when Clay remembered being thrown against the tree and his head hit the branch.

Hard.

Remembering that caused the back of Clay's head to ache slightly, but he couldn't help but crack a smile.

"I gotta hand it t' Rai. If it weren't fer him, I reckon we all would'a….

"Clay!"

The cowboy looked down from his perch to see none other than Omi. The top of his shiny bald head was easily spotted from the treetops.

"Omi! Up here, partner!"

The monk jumped in surprise and jerked his head upwards. He hadn't expected to find Clay in such a strange place. Still, Omi's face became a mask of relief at seeing his friend safe and well.

"Are you alright, my friend?"

Clay started to climb down the tree, having quite a time at it.

" My head's a lil' sore, but other'n that, I reckon I'm alright.

Suddenly, the two warriors heard Raimundo's voice call from somewhere in the distance.

"Hey, Omi! Did you find him yet?"

Clay hollered back in response.

"Over here, Rai! Got Kimiko with you?"

"I'm here!" Kimiko called.

Rai and Kimkio stepped out from under the trees and into the small gathering.

"Well, that didn't exactly go as I'd hoped." Rai said, sounding a bit embarrassed. "But at least we're all safe, right?"

"Indeed." said Omi.

"I thought I was a goner." Kimiko said as she wiped a drop of sweat from her brow. "My life flashed before my eyes!"

"Mine too. Well, what little of it there was." said Omi.

The other two nodded in agreement.

"We must not dawdle here." Omi finally said. "For as we stand here we are also losing precious time, especially since we no longer have Dojo to guide us."

For a while, there was a pause. Then, Raimundo nodded.

"Right, Omi. I say we start by fanning out and searching the immediate area."

Kimiko stared at their leader as a look of disappointment spread across her face.

"You mean…this is where it is?"

Clay quickly surveyed the area around them.

"Has t' be here somewhere. This was the spot Dojo seemed t' be headed t'wards b'fore he got himself a case o' Wu flu."

Kimiko looked like she was going to cry.

"But…I really wanted to see papa again…"

"What ha got you dumped down, Kimiko?" Omi asked innocently.

"It's down in the dumps." Clay and Rai said in unison.

Kimiko bowed her head.

"It's just that, well…when I heard our destination was Japan, well I was hoping that I would be able to see my family again. I mean, it's been two years since I've seen any of them."

Clay placed his hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her.

"I can understand you bein' disappointed, Kimiko. I miss my folks too."

Kimiko let out a long compressed sigh as she looked up at the tall young man.

"I know, Clay. And I'm not trying to be a pain to anyone, it's just that, knowing I'm this close to them is hard to ignore."

Rai nodded at her comment.

"I know how you feel too, Kimiko. But this is really important. Master Fung was more worried about this Shen Gong Wu than I have ever seen him before. This is bigger than something like Mala Mala Jong, or Wuya, maybe even Chase."

"I get how important it is, Rai. You don't have to remind me." Kimiko said with a bit of coldness in her tone. She couldn't believe it. She felt as though Rai was blaming her for wanting to see her parents.

Raimundo, realizing that she was getting a little ticked off, decided to change the subject and cut to the chase.

"Okay, we do have a lot of ground to cover, but since we don't know the area, I think we should split up into groups of two so in case we do get lost we'll all have someone with us. Omi and I will go this way. Clay, you and Kimiko take that direction. We'll meet back here at dawn." Rai took a rock and carved an "X" into a nearby tree to mark the spot.

"Alright, see you guys later." That said, the dragons went their separate ways. Raimundo looked back at the other two warriors as they disappeared from sight, his thoughts turned to Kimiko.

He was worried about that cold look she had given him. Master Fung had mentioned to them how dangerous this particular Wu was, emphasizing, especially to Raimundo, that it could cause great evil if the user is experiencing negative feelings. He said little besides that, saying that the least they know about this particular Shen Gong Wu, the better. Rai may not have understood his master's actions, but what he did know and had always known since becoming involved with Kimiko Tohomiko was that when she was angry, it was never a good thing.

……………………..

"Clay?" It was the first time Kimiko spoke since thay had all split up when what she believed an hour ago. At least it seemed that long ago.

"Huh?" Clay said, finally taking a small break from searching.

Kimiko was unsure about whether or not she wanted to say anything more about this, but after a moment she decided on it and acted.

"Um, I know how important finding this Shen Gong Wu is…but, but don't you think that it would be alright with Rai and Omi if we made a quick stop in Tokyo after finding it?" Her eyes were so filled with hope that Clay almost couldn't bear to tell her no, but he was aware of the task at hand, and knew that the young Japanese girl's request was not practical for the time being.

"I don't know 'bout that, Kimiko. Master Fung said to bring the Shen Gong Wu back to the temple as soon as possible. As soon as we find it, I reckon we'll head on back 'for anyone else comes for it."

Clay, obviously in an effort to change the subject, suggested that they search near some thorny looking bushes, preferring to risk sticking himself rather than start an argument with her.

For the next half hour they made very little communication with each other, barely making eye contact. Finally, unable to take the quiet treatment anymore, Kimiko broke the silence, snapping like a twig under a tiger's paw as it missteps while pursuing food.

"Clay, this is useless! Here we are in the middle of no where searching for one small object that we're never going to find at this rate. We can't do this alone, we need Dojo. And I know you're purposely trying to avoid eye contact with me…hey!"

The cowboy jumped up in surprise, nearly falling into a bed of thorny bushes.

"At least listen to me!" Her frustration was evident from her face, which was slowly turning red.

"Hey now, no need t' raise your voice, Kimiko. I was paying attention."

"Oh really?" Kimiko said, a note of sarcasm in her tone. " I thought for a minute that you preferred poking through those bushes, which, by the way, are poisonous!"

" Quickly backing away from the bushes, Clay misplaced a step and ended up falling all over himself. Kimiko couldn't help but laugh at the cowboys folly, never intending to be cruel. Clay gave her a look that seemed to show early stages of anger; she stopped laughing.

"Why didn't you say them bushes were poisonous earlier? Now I'll probably get a rash!"

Kimiko gave him an angry look in return.

"You didn't seem to want to talk to me. I'm just staying out of the way like you want me to!"

"Will you stop acting like a cranky widow with no clean linens?" Clay blurted out angrily.

Kimiko's face became a mixture of confusion and aggravation at the cowboy's remark.

"WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? Do you always have to talk like a bad western special?" Kimiko shook her head. Her patience was quickly wearing thin.

Now Clay's patience for Kimiko was fading as well, despite always being able to control his temper.

"Beats bein' a spoiled brat." Clay muttered.

Kimiko was taken aback by his remark. Clay had never spoken so bitterly towards one of his fellow warriors. Well, she was going to bite back.

"Well, if being spoiled means having some civility and manners, then I guess I am. Just because I don't wrangle cattle, or-or juggle livestock, it doesn't mean that I'm not a generous person. Besides, you should speak for yourself! You eat as if you were a real cow, boy!"

Clay Gritted his teeth as he stared down at her.

" He he he…Well, ain't you so clever and ain't I such a brain dead hick? Well, at least I don't go off like a fire cracker on the 4th of July ev'ry time I get steamed!"

"I fight back! There's pride in that, unlike just letting people walk all over you like a perpetual lump!"

"Better'n bein' selfish!"

"I am not selfish!"

"Not selfish? NOT SELFISH? Oh, 'course not! Not YOU! What kind o' selfish person be so generous as to put her own prerogatives b'fore the enire world?"

Kimiko began to get nervous. She had never seen Clay this angry before.

"W-we're not even talking about that Clay! I dropped that an hour ago!"

Clay came closer to Kimiko. All the times she made fun of him. The way he talked. The things he liked to do. The country music he liked to listen to. All of the anger Clay felt over those situations over the past three years. They had all been bottled up. And no the bottle was ready to burst.

"You might think you're perfect. You might think you're better'n me. Well, let me tell you somethin', Miss Tohomiko. I think you need t' go see an anger management consultant! You're a hot headed lil' bitch, and, now that I see you for what you are, it's no wonder Rai dumped you!"

-SMACK!-

Clay fell backward from the force of the slap. When Kimiko's hand had struck his face it seemed to "wake him up" from his rage filled ranting. He looked down at Kimiko. She was shaking, and something was on her face, but Clay couldn't believe what it was.

"She, she's cryin'?"

Clay reached out his hand, not really knowing what to say. His hand was slapped away as Kimiko lifted her head. Her expression was a mixture of anger, and hurt. Tears still rolling down her cheeks, she slowly backed away until she was several yards a way from him, the whole time never looking away from him, staring him down with those hateful/hurt-filled eyes.

"Fuck you, Clay!" That was all she said before turning and running off into the depths of the forestland.

For a moment, Clay was completely silent. He put his hand up to the stinging red spot where he had been struck, and narrowed his eyes.

"Fine! Go on, git yourself hopelessly lost! No skin off my hide!"

Silence.

"You hear me?"

Still silence. She was gone.