Disclaimer: Do Not Own Xiaolin Showdown. But Lady Lizgon Own Her Characters and Her Wu(s). Got a friend to share a story to tell...Enjoy!
Chapter 2 – The Skull Castle
The long trip from the Xiaolin Temple to the creepy, skull-looking castle that Matt's father, Yamato, had inherited the castle after his 'dad' retired from being the lord of the eastern land.
"It's creepy." Alej whistled, staring disbelief at the skull-looking castle. "And it's stupid too." He glanced at Matt as the hothead boy's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
"Are you preferring about me, lightning-boy!" Matt snarled, shaking his fist madly at the smirking young wind dragon.
"Now, now, now… You two." Dari said calmly, shoving them apart from each other. "Fighting don't do solve itself you two should know that."
"Ah, just let them be tearing each other. They're just idiots." Zhan chuckled not aware of the fists went in his way…
'BONK!'
"OWWWWWWW!" The Dragon of Spirit clutched his head painfully, the two huge bumps on his head and he glared at Matt and Alej. "What was that for!"
Matt scoffed looking away to hid his smirk in victory. "Keh."
Alej rubbed his fist glaring at Zhan for being called 'idiot'. "Watch it." He warned. "Or I might have oh so accidentally blow you up with a lightning bolt."
Umi rolled his eyes. "This is most shameful action from you three. I should expected you Alej and Matt, but Zhan? Oh, this is most troubling ever I seen!"
"Zip your yelp." Kika mumbled tiredly, "We're all tired, especially our parents." She jerked her head toward the group of their parents talking in union. "And fighting nonsense of yours isn't really helpful either."
"Well, since when you all are our guests. You deserved to be well rest from the long-time trip. I can't afford being accidentally falling asleep during the battle." A familiar voice startled all other boys except for Matt who narrowed his eyes hateful at the direction of a voice.
Her eyes widened in surprise at the silent boy when she hadn't realize Chen was actually still there. Oh yeah… he's really like Chase Young… Silent and handsome… Sachiko blushed furiously at the thought and glanced down at the ground to avoid the suspicious eyes.
Matt huffed. Geez!
---
"So Chase what have you been wanting to tell us?" Raimundo asked putting his arm around his wife. The others nodded. Chase glanced at the children.
"Not right now later." Chase explained nodding to the children who were busy arguing with each other. "Chen, can you take the others and give them a tour of the castle?" Chen smiled and then he guided them to a staircase, they walked up. Chen took one last look of them and went after the rest of the kids.
"Come." Yamato motioned toward a room with a fire. They all sat in a circle around the blazing fire.
"Hello Dragons and Tigers" Master Monk Guan entered the room. "It's been a long time." He smiled. The Dragons and Tigers bowed their heads in respect.
"Now that our introductions are finished let's get down to business." Khu frowned knowing his cousin and the Dragons won't like what they were going to hear.
"You know 1,501 years ago Ariko was still alive, he had a wife. She was the one unknown from the world she was also beautiful. Many men were willing to go to war for her, she had great psychic powers, and her essences and Ariko's essences would create a powerful child. When Dashi trapped Ariko, his wife was already pregnant. Some of his loyal men hid her until the son of Ariko was born. We think he was born and his mother was teaching him to be like Ariko, he is suppose to collect a person who can open a portal, so Ariko can cross over. This child is suppose to be a Dragon or Tiger with premonitions through dreams, but is pushing their powers away. This child is not only supposed to open a portal for Ariko, but can create an Apocalypse that even frightens the gods. The child can not only split the world in two, but can also destroy the universe as you can see the child has extraordinary powers." Chase explained. The Dragons looked horrified at what was going to happen. They were speechless and afraid of what to do.
"Are you sure that it's going to be one of the Dragons or Tigers?" Omi asked the first one to recover his voice.
"An old scroll has the prophecy written clearly." Master Monk said as he nodded. There was an awkward silence.
"Which dragon or tiger is it?" Kimiko asked a little shaken at what was going to happen.
"We don't know." Khu answered. "We have to train them just in case if it happens. If they become strong they can stop or defeat the Apocalypse, Ariko's son, and stop the world from splitting in two and stop the child from destroying the universe."
"Do you think they're ready to carry such a burden?" Kelina said putting her hand through her blonde hair.
"They must or else the world won't exist as we now it." Evila replied. This question and answer session went on a while.
---
"OWWWW" Zen was just hit in the head for saying "Matty and Alej are so stubborn! They're alike and they fight so much they're like a married couple!" And then he was getting laughs from some of his friends.
"Enough with the fighting, it's really getting annoying." Sylvia said has she rubbed Zen's head trying to stop the throbbing pain Zen was yelling about.
Matt scowled. "It's not like he doesn't deserve it." Zen growled showing his fangs. Matt smirked knowing he made him angry. "He's just a lecherous mutt with nothing else to do."
"Now that's not nice, but I like that you're speaking the truth." Nixie smiled as Matt turned a little pink. "Do want to go somewhere later?" She whispered into his ear. Mat turned even pinker and the others saw a little love in his eyes.
"Aw, our little Matt is growing up…" Dari smirked as Matt glowered at him.
"Welcome to the common room." Chen's voice startled them for he didn't talk for a while. The common room had about 100 stairs as a waterfall in the background. There was a canopy above the top stairs.
"Can we slide down the stair railing?" Alej asked in his playful mood returning to him. "The parents are busy and we have nothing to do." Chen was cornered he knew his father would be mad, but his guest were begging him. He surrendered and they were climbing stairs to reach the top. Chen stayed on the bottom just in case someone fell.
Alej was the first one to go down. His element was the best to describe his speed because he was going lightning fast. His mud brown hair blowing at the speed he was going at. For his finale jumping off the railing and he did a quadruple flip.
Diego went next, then Umi, after him was Zhan, Kei, next was Dari, Matt, and Zen was last. When all the boys were finished the girls decided the order of sliding down.
Nixie was first, Kika second, Kyka third, after was Sylvia, and finally was Sachiko.
Wind blew through her brown hair, her blue eyes sparkling in happiness. Her eyes filled with fear when her feet tangled with each other. She was about one and half stories from the floor when she fell off the railing. Sachiko closed her eyes scared of what was going to happen, ready to feel the pain. Chen quickly ran to her and caught her in his arms, but her weight made him fall, too. The other monks ran to help Chen and Sachiko. Chen was sitting on the floor with Sachiko's hand on his neck and her body was on his, though she was unconscious.
"Zen go get our parents, she's unconscious" order Chen.
In Sachiko's Dream
Sachiko was in a long, lacey dress with diamonds attached to the bottom. Chen stood there in a suit that made him even more irresistible. He took her hand and brought her to a cherry blossom tree near a river, under thousands of stars and a glimmering moon. He began dancing with her through the tall grass they swayed side to side. He brought her close and gave her a necklace, with beautiful sapphires.
"They remind me of your eyes, shimmering with happiness and hope. Sapphires can never compare to your eyes, though" Chen told her she blushed. He put the necklace around her neck. The sapphires glittered in the moonlight. Sachiko put her hand on his neck and brought him close to kiss him. There lips touched and they were having a moment in heaven. They heard a chuckling close to them they pulled apart. A boy with black hair up to his lower back and black, heartless eyes stepped close to them.
"Well we meet again Chen." He smirked. He lifted his hand and Sachiko came toward him by force. "Too bad that the girl be mine, today." Tears formed in Sachiko's eyes, as she tried to pull away from the mysterious boy. Chen tried to reach for her when a force field kept him from her. Sachiko started crying harder when the boy took her close to him. Sachiko tried to pull away, but the boy held tightly. She lifted her arm trying to get to Chen. Chen on the other side of the force field was trying to get to Sachiko. The boy's eyes flashed with fury and he snapped his fingers. The force field blasted Chen; he flew in to the air, and hit the ground.
"Chen!" Sachiko exclaimed knowing he was unconscious. More tears flowed from Sachiko's eyes. The boy smiled wickedly.
"Don't worry about him, when you have me." The boy put his lips on Sachiko's. Sachiko felt her energy draining and evil flowing through her body. Sachiko pushed him off.
"Who are you… you evil creature?" The boy's eyes filled with evil and wickedness.
He put his lips near her ears. "I'm Xheng." He kissed her again and she pushed him off again.
"I don't love you, leave me alone!" Sachiko ordered, but he smirked.
"You will love me no matter what will happen." Xheng answered. Sachiko pushed herself off of him and she fell to the ground, her fear was flowing through her.
He came close to her and he bent down. "You will be the portal." He whispered gravely to her. "You will help me." He said as he got up. He lifted his hand and her body stood up, too.
"You will also love me." Tears poured out of her eyes. "Don't cry Sachiko…" Xheng cupped her face in his hands and kissed her again. He then ripped the necklace Chen gave her off her neck.
"You will forget and stop loving Chen Young. You will learn to love me." Xheng then started to laugh evilly and tears fell from Sachiko's eyes.
End of Dream
"Sachiko wake up!"
Sachiko blinked her sleepy eyes; she was still in Chen's arms. She was about to cry, but stopped herself. Her hand was still around Chen's neck and her body was pressed against his. She pulled him a little closer. The parents were in the room, as they crowded around her.
"Are you okay, honey?" Kimiko asked putting her hand on her daughter's forehead. Chase suspected something because he saw her hold back tears.
"I'm fine, mom" Sachiko replied.
"How come you didn't use your element?" Raimundo asked.
"I think because I was one and half stories in the air about to fall on to the floor." Sachiko answered sarcastically.
"Don't use that attitude with me!" Raimundo ordered. Kimiko put her hand on his shoulder.
"Rai, she almost died, be happy Chen saved her." Kimiko said. Raimundo thanked Chen.
"No problem." Chen smiled which unaware his smile caused Sachiko blushed. Raimundo didn't like where this was going to go.
"Sachiko I think you should go to your room." Raimundo suggested.
Sachiko tried to get up, and was about to fall down again when Chen caught her.
"I'm still a little wobbly." Sachiko told them. Chen picked her up bridal style.
Matt's eyebrow twitched at the sight of Sachiko and Chen. Keh, that bastard. He takes an advantage of Sachiko like that.
"I'll take her to her room." Chen volunteered. "I think we all should get some rest." The adults nodded. "Boys go to the right, girls follow me."
Sachiko wrapped her arms around Chen's neck. He pushed her close to his chest; Sachiko rested her head on his chest. She could hear his heart beat and Chen could feel her breathing. Raimundo didn't like who close his daughter was with one of his enemy's son.
"Come this way to your bedrooms." Master Monk Guan motioning to the other side of the hall.
---
Chen and the girls came to the girl's room. The other girl's went in quickly to find their stuff was already in the room. Chen put Sachiko down on her blue bed.
"Hope you get better and sorry if you got hurt." Chen smiled.
"Thank you for saving my life. You are very sweet." Sachiko smiled. He kissed her on the cheek. Sachiko blushed and touched her cheek where he kissed her. Chen got up and left, Sachiko smiled in love.
Nixie smirked. "Looks like someone is in love." Sachiko glared at her.
"I wouldn't be talking, someone has a date with Matt." Sachiko retorted. Nixie blushed. "You were so flirty when you were with Matt."
"I wonder if she can tame the lion." Kika asked thought out loud. They gave the green haired witch a confused look. "I was wondering if Nixie could tame Matt's temper like Aunt Hope did to Uncle Yamato." The girls understood what she was saying.
"What's happening with you and Dari?" Sylvia asked. "You were attached to him like glue." Kika bite her lip. Sylvia saw how uncomfortable Kika looked. "I'm just kidding." Kika looked relived.
"At least my father isn't as protective as Sachiko's." interjected Nixie. Sachiko looked puzzled at her word.
"Did you see your dad's face when your face was flustered near Chen or when Chen was carrying you to our room, you were practically hugging him? If your dad saw Chen kiss you he would explode…literally." Kyka explained.
Sachiko thought back to all those times. Kyka and Nixie are right, Dad would explode if he saw me kissing Chen or if someone told him about the kiss he gave me.
---
In Boys Room
Matt continued glaring at Chen from his bed as he crossed his arms across his chest. Chen noticed the hothead's death glare and leaned toward Dari. "Is it just me or did he's stare seem cold to me?" He whispered with his hand to Dari.
Dari opened one of his eyes and glanced over to Matt before he returned to close his eye. "Probably 'cuz he's jealous of you."
"I'M NOT JEALOUS OF THAT BASTARD!" Matt yelled at Dari, looking angry. "AS IF!" He jerked his chin in other direction closing his eyes.
Alej turned his head away from the window, supporting his elbow on the window lid and his palm pressed against his cheek in annoyance. "If I had dime for every word I heard from you, I'll be richer." He said dryly, smirking at Matt.
"What about Nixie?" Umi asked opening his eyes and looked at Matt in curiously. "That way she looked at you as if she likes you a lot."
Matt stuttered in surprise.
Dari and Alej shared a smirk at each other, knowing they can get the best chance to teasing Matt.
"Feh. As if!" He tossed over to the side of his bed and pretending to sleep. "Good night, guys."
Dari tucked under the sheet, smiling mysteriously. It's going to be interesting tomorrow.
---
It was about twelve o' clock and the dragon of wind was having trouble sleeping at the thought of her father getting angry if Chen was also in love with her. She felt her legs return to her, and then Sachiko quickly got out of her bed. She tiptoed out of the girl's room.
She walked through the kitchen, then the common room. Finally she got out of the castle. She walked to the edge looked at the snow, white, crescent moon and shining stars. A shooting star traveled the stars; Sachiko clasped her hands together and made a wish.
"Hello." Sachiko turned around to find…
To Be Continued
