Chapter 3

Nia's POV

"Here Nia, you will need to put these on." My mom said. She handed me a red hijab and a blue direh (a long dress like clothing). Even though I was Muslim, I never accually wore these befor. But I guess I'll be wearing these more often, since I'll be living here in Somalia.

"Can you help me put on the hijab, Mama?" I asked, after i had put on the direh. She nodded yes and showed me the proper way to wear it. She showed me a mirror and gasped.

"You are so beautiful, Nia." my mother said with a smile on her face. I saw how much we looked like each other, like how a strand of our auburn hair always hangs out of our hijabs. I was like a youthful version of my mom.

I wonder if Raimundo ever thought I was beautiful.

My family and I were at the Bangoni's house waiting for them. They lived in a mansion, nicer than most of the houses I've seen since we came here. We sat on the sofa, admiring the the stunning decor of the place. I already missed the Xiaolin temple, it wasn't facny, but it was home.

"Baba," I asked, " what does Taban look like?"

Baba, with a stern face said "He is tall, well built, and handsom. He has long charcoal dread locks and mysterious golden eyes. He may look nice, but on the inside, he is very ugly."

That only upset me even more. I was trying my absoulute best to try to make the best of things but this was just turning worse and worse.

Then, three people entered the room, one was a boy about my age, who fit Baba's description. An older man, wearing a blue turban had a cold look on his face. The woman, who glared at my parents, wore a stern, angry face as she walked in.

I sarted getting nervous and worried. What if I said something to offend them? Uhgggg...

"My my, Nia, you are beautiful indeed." Taban said. He took my hand kissed it. My father sighed in dissaproval.

Oh, great, another charmer...

"Thank you." I said quietly. Taban sat down on the sofa across from the one we sat on. spoke first.

"Nia, we hear that you are training to be the Xiaolin dragon of Lightning. Do you plan to continue this after you and Taban get married?" He asked.

"Of course, it's my duty to the world. Why?" I said. frowned.

"Your duty is to take of this house, your husband, and your children. As soon as you are married you will not continue this Xiaolin bussiness." He retorted.

Oh no he didn't!

"Who do think you are!" I shouted.I spung from my seat but my mother grabbed my hand and sat me back down.

"Please, choose your words carefully. It is disrespectful to yell at a man." She wispered. It's disrepectful to tell people what they can and can't do like that, but no one is telling him that! Mrs. Bangoni spoke next.

"How do you think you will carry a child with a body like that?", she stated, "You are too skinny, you have no hips or breast. How do you suppose you will take care of it?"

"I, um, I don't want to have kids right now. I'm only fourteen." I said nervously. Mrs. Bangoni glared at me with her cold eyes.

"You have no say in the matter." She spat. Oh, great, now im having kids too. This so wasn't in the plan. How am I suppose to explain that when my friends see me with a big bulging belly?

"I honestly don't know what you see in this girl, son." said said.

"Oh father, I see great potential in her. Besides, she will soon grow curvier and then we shall hundreds of children!" Taban exlaimed.

That is it! "I am NOT having kids! Not now, not ever, not until I'm ready for some! What part of that don't you understand? And for your imformation, I do have a say in the matter!" I yelled.

There was silnece, I looked around the room and saw my parent's shocked faces, and the angry faces on the Bangonis's. Taban sprang from his seat, and lunged at me. I saw him raise his hand up. I flinched and closed my eyes. I screamed when I felt a strong force hit the side of my face. I fell, holding that side of my face, tears steaming down my cheek.

"You will do as I say." He grunted. I heard my mother pleading for him to stop. I wipped up my tears an put on a brave face. It would only make him feel better if I had cried. My face was already starting to swell, I could feel it. But despite my pain, I got up, looked him in the eye.

"You don't own me." I said sternly. He laughed in my face.

"I think we are finished here." He said to my parents. We were escoted by the maid out the house. The maid, who was an old woman, gave me a bag of ice.

"Asante." I said (that means "Thank you" in Swahilli). Baba held me in his arms, telling me how sorry he is about what happened.

"I should have beat him right then and there." He said. I took his hand in mine.

"Baba, look at me, they would have had you killed if you did. I can take this, I'm the Drangon of Lightning. If he hits me when we are married, I'll use these." I said, pulling out the Fans of Arc out of my sleeves. He chuckled.

Later

I looked in the mirror. My face wasn't swollen anymore, thanks to the ice pack. But now it was a dark shade of blue and black on my cheek. I touched it, but hurt like crazy. I'll be honest, I lied when I said I could take it. Taban can hit really hard.

Raimundo would've never hit me. Ever. Not in a million years. I swear, if he were there when it happened, her would have litterally knocked the wind out of Taban. I laughed at the thought.

Just then, my phone rang. I picked it up, It was Kimiko!

"Hello?" I said.

"Mushi-mushi, Nia. Guess what?" She asked.

"What? Omi got a slang right?" I asked. That is something i would like to see.

"Look out your window." She said simply. I opened the window and saw 6 people waving at me.

Oh. My. God!

Kimiko, Omi, Clay, Master Fung, Dojo and Raimundo were outside my house!

I quickly put on my hijab and ran outside.

Raimundo's POV

When I saw Nia come outside my heart jumped for joy. She was wearing one of those head scarfs that Muslim girls wear. It looked nice on her. She ran to me and hugged me, while the others grouped hugged us both. I must have hugged her too hard because she yelped in pain.

"Nia," I asked, "whats wrong?". She stopped hugging me and moved a peice of the hijab covering her cheek. I gasped when I saw the large bruise.

"Nia, what happened?" Kimiko asked.

"I, uh, fell." she said. She looked at me. Her silvery grey eyes shone in the moonlight. I knew she didn't fall, I could see the handprint on her cheek. Taban must have hit her. I was so mad but i didn't show it. I didn't want her to worry.

"You guys should come in, you must be tired." Nia said leading us into the house.

Later

Mr and Mrs. Aden agreed to let us stay here. They had two rooms that would be used as geust rooms. I got ready to go too bed, but I decided to go hang out in Nia's room. I opened the door and walk inside.

"Raimundo!" She screamed, "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" she grabbed her hijab and started wrapping it around her head.

"Sorry. Do you really have to put on that hijab thingy all the time?" I asked. She nodded.

"I'm not suppose to take it off in front of a man that's not my father or...husband." She said.

"Oh...speaking of husband, what really happened to your face?" I asked. She immedietly hid it with the hijab.

"Nia, i know he hit you, I can see the hand print on the bruise." I said. She looked to the floor, ashamed.

"He slapped me." She said. "Please don't tell anybody, if the others find out..."

"I knew this was gonna happen!" I seethed. "As soon as I meet him I'll knock him out!". Nia grabbed my shoulders.

"No!" she yelled, "If you hurt him, the Bangoni's will hurt you! If they did that I don't think I could stand that!" She was crying by now. "If you ever got hurt, I wouldn' be able to handle it! Do you hear me?"

Nia collasped in my arms and sobbed. I held her, letting her cry out all the pain. We were on the floor, in the dark. I wispered things in her ear to calm her down.

"Shh, it's okay," I wispered, "It's all gonna be okay. I'm so sorry."

I picked her up bridal style and layed her on her bed. I was about to leave, but I felt her pull my arm.

"Stay with me, please. Just for tonight." she pleaded. I climbed in the bed, and wrapped my arms around her.

"Goodnight." I said. She sighed.

"Goodnight, I love you." She yawned. I looked at her, her beautiful face glowed in the moonlight. I couldn't belive it. She said it. She said she loved me! But she was tired, she probly didn't know what she was saying. But it still lifted my heart to hear her say it.

I kissed her forehead and went to sleep. For the first time in a few days, I felt...at peace.