Raimundo had not brought his mum up since Christmas, leaving Kimiko wondering if she should. She knew how much he despised the topic, and it was the only thing holding her back from speaking up about it.
Yet, she could see him struggle daily. He would wake up before the sun arose, train, shower and then meet her at the rooftop to watch the sunrise.
If she were honest, she was scared to ask. She saw him battle with himself, his muscle flex, fists clenched, but when he would show up with hot cocoa for her in his hands it seemed as if all the worry was washed off in the shower. She didn't want to taunt him, and she didn't know how to start a conversation, either.
Sometimes she would get mad at Raimundo - had her mother been still alive she would have called her at least once a week like she did her father.
Of course, Rai's situation was way more complex - Kimi knew that - but it was a matter of time before she would snap.
It only got worse after Rai officially stopped replying to any messages from his siblings. He always cared so much about his family, but he was slowly falling apart under the burden of his mother's choices.
Kimiko hated him so miserable, and she knew sooner or later something had to be done.
"Earth to Kimiko!" Dojo waved her tail in front of her face bringing her out from her thoughts.
"W-what?" she hesitated, even though she, suspected what the fuss was all about.
"Another Sheng Gong Wu just revealed itself!" Who would have thought?
From where she sat, Kimiko could hear a quiet chit chat between the boys, but she was too caught up in her own thoughts to pay attention - she only hoped this trance she was in wouldn't last long, they were there for a reason, after all.
"Welcome to Looe," Dojo announced.
Even from so high Kimiko could smell the water, and somehow - in a weird way - it calmed her.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Omi asked, and Dojo in haste opened the magical scroll.
"Culver Crystal - it creates a glittering and blinding sphere that helps its user during an escape," he explained, "Must be why Dashi and I left it at the docks," Dojo shrugged and hid the scroll again."
"Alright gang, time to split up," Rai announced. Kimiko couldn't help, but wish she would be assigned with him. Instead, Rai ordered, "Kimiko, you go north, Omi south, Clay west, and I'll go east."
"What about me?" Dojo crossed his tiny arms and pouted.
"Stick with one of us, gecko," he chuckled, but Dojo's eyebrows knitted.
"I'm not a-" But Raimundo was already long gone with a gust of wind.
Omi wandered by the docks with Dojo wrapped around his arm. Boy's gaze was focused on the pier he was entering.
"Can you feel something Dojo?"
"Only the rash on my tail, kiddo." He showed off the reddened part of his body.
"Ugh," Ommi cringed. "Focus, Dojo! It should around here somewhere! Let's hope others had more gut."
"That's luck, Omi!"
Kimiko wandered through the small town, her head dizzy. She couldn't shake Riamundo out of her head no matter how hard she tried.
She shouldn't be thinking about him, but of a new Wu!
Culver Crystal... she looked around for an orb with a pyramid made of ice inside, but she only found ships in bottles in local shops.
Her phone rang suddenly, and she expected to see one of her friends' name, it was her father instead.
"Moshi, moshi papa," Kimi answered, trying to still glance for any sign of Wu being around. His voice was warm, and he sounded ecstatic to hear her as always - yet, she could sense something different about him. "I can't exactly talk right now," she interrupted him.
But he pushed her to listen and soon Kimiko forgot all about Shang Gong Wu and worried more about not dropping her phone in shock.
"What?!" she yelled in the middle of the street and was sure even Master Fung heard her back in China.
Raimundo was the search for Wu when he heard Kimiko scream. He almost broke his neck, turning his head fast as he did just like all the people around him - most likely confused by the sudden outburst. Using their distraction to his advantage he called upon his powers "Shoku warrior wind!" and with that he was gone, looking for his friend, Wu long forgotten.
He found her quickly, fists clenched, a weird gleam in her eyes - a sign of tears as he would soon have a doubtful pleasure to discover.
"Hey, girl," he started, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Everything good?"
She didn't look up at him, instead, she averted his gaze - suddenly ashamed. "Kimi?"
"You got the Wu?"
"No, I heard you scream and..." Words died on his tongue. Her yell didn't sound like a cry for help - so he could throw that excuse out - more like a release of anger.
"Let's go then, it won't find itself." She dragged him ahead, not facing him the entire time.
"Jack, I challenge you to a Shaolin Showdown! My third-arm sash against your Woozy Shooter," Clay shouted into the other boy's face.
"Fine! The game's free the fish - whoever manages to free more fish in five minutes from fishnet wins."
"Alright then - Gong yi tanpai!"
As the scenery changed all the monks were transferred to the cliff to watch the showdown. Raimundo's eyes remained focused on Kimiko, even though she wouldn't even spare him a glance.
Showdown was quick - with his Wudai powers, beating up Jack was becoming easier with every day. One kick there and there, a typhoon Clay caused by the ground movements - once again Clay showed off his powers - and even the fish Jack freed all came to Clay with the wave.
"Easy peasy lemon squeezy," Clay chuckled, holding all the Wu in his enormous palms.
"Wow, no farm saying this time?"
"Not saying them is as hard as escaping aunt Shirley's pecks."
"And here we go again." Rai rolled his eyes with a grin.
"Alright, kiddos, let's go home!" Dojo chimed in as he changed his form. He was just glad the rash was already disappearing, but a warm bath back at the temple still seemed like a blessing.
Kimiko stayed quiet the whole way back, playing with fingernails or with the ends of her hair. Raimundo kept turning to her, but she still wouldn't face him, so he decided to wait until they got back and let Clay indulge him in small talk during the ride.
Yet, as soon as they arrived, and the rest went to the vault to hide Sheng Gong Wu Rai followed Kimiko just outside the temple.
"Ay, Menina, what's goin' on with ya today?" he asked as she finally looked at him with a watery gaze. She shook her head as if she was trying to collect her thoughts or get rid of the tears that gathered in her eyes.
"My papa's getting married, Rai," Kimi sobbed as she covered her face with her palms. Shock hit Raimundo like a wave - he'd never seen her so devastated, she usually dealt with problems using her temper not... tears - before he came to his senses and wrapped his arms around her slim body. He would ask her later, for now, he just let her come apart in his embrace.