Title: I Love You
Rating: T
Genre: romance/general
Word Count: 1,403
Summary: Kimiko takes a walk and begins to reminisce about Raimundo...
AN: This one is rather different... a bit more serious and a different style. I think Kimiko is also just the slightest bit OOC in this... but I still like the way it turned out. Another "sudden idea" oneshot. Hope you'll enjoy. :D
It was a beautiful spring afternoon when I slipped outside of my room. The air was fresh, a gentle breeze blowing. The sun was warm, its rays shining upon my face. Everything was calm, and I couldn't sense a single dissonance to break this beautiful scene.
I started to walk, my mind beginning to wander.
Life at the Xiaolin Temple had been amazingly peaceful for the whole past week. No wu had decided to reveal themselves, and no raids had been made on the vault. We hadn't seen Chase, Wuya, Hannibal, or even Jack in well over seven days… even our chores seemed to have lessened. Master Fung had also been leniently kind, allowing easier practices and more time to rest.
I breathed in deeply, my silky black hair billowing in the wind.
I wasn't complaining, of course. I rather enjoyed the easier days we were experiencing. It just made me feel so refreshingly new and happy. I glanced up at the blue sky with its fluffy white clouds floating here and there. With such a beautiful day, it seemed almost as though evil had ceased to exist.
How that would make my day, I thought to myself. The day when evil disappears and life could be like this forever…
I suddenly realized that I was in the temple garden.
I smiled to myself. It was like some sixth sense had led me to this beautiful place. I brushed my hair back and continued to proceed forward. Soon I was at the lone cherry blossom tree that stood high and mighty in the center of the garden. To the right was a flower patch, beyond it the training grounds. To my left was the fountain, the water spraying forth and falling like diamonds back inside.
I placed a hand on the bark, testing its roughness. I discovered it smooth, not at all coarse. Smiling, I lifted myself gently off the ground, sliding onto the lowest branch and then proceeding further upward. Soon, I was at the top, and what a beautiful view I had.
The scenery was absolutely gorgeous. I could see the mountains that surrounded the valley in which the temple rested. Lush green vegetation grew almost everywhere, filling the world with color. The buildings themselves were a marvelous sight to behold with their blue roof tiles and golden-rimmed windows sparkling beneath the sunshine.
That was when my eyes caught sight of another scene.
He seemed to be practicing… what I wasn't sure though. I supposed it was some martial arts move that he was bent on perfecting. He stood not upon the training grounds as usual, but in the square right outside the vault. The winds moved naturally to his rhythm, and his wonderful brown hair was just the slightest bit ruffled. I continued to watch him move. His body flowed so naturally, I noticed. The movements were smooth… flawless… just like himself. My eyes lingered a bit longer before I realized how much of a peeping tom I was being.
I felt my cheeks immediately redden as I slipped down from the tree. When my feet touched the ground, I placed my palms upon my cheeks. They were burning. How embarrassing.
I sat back down and sighed, leaning against the trunk.
I didn't understand what was wrong with me.
Everyday I was with him. Trained with him. Battled with him. Talked with him. Laughed with him.
And it seemed so natural, so easy. But we were just friends. Then, when I glimpse him alone, all these feelings rush up. The adrenaline… the racing of my heart, the reddening of my usually ivory cheeks… It all led me to the same conclusion.
I liked him. I totally did.
But… I kept denying it.
I supposed it was because I was afraid. What if he didn't share the same attraction? He flirted with me, there was no doubt about that. But did he mean it? I had long ago realized that flirting is simply a part of his personality. I can never tell if he really, truly, means it.
If I were to confess and then realize that he doesn't feel the same way… oh the humiliation I would suffer. And not only that, our friendship would become so despairingly awkward. I didn't want that to happen. That couldn't happen. I refused to let that occur.
I didn't like him. It was just a short phase that would soon pass me by and leave me at peace.
But my heart did not beat in accordance with my brain. I could feel inside me that the statement was false.
I left the tree and started toward the flower patch, refusing to think more of the problem.
Instead, I calmed myself by gently lying down, the grass soft beneath my back. I could see the flowers around me, and breathed in their wonderful scent. I stared at the clouds above me, locating different shapes and counting how many. Eventually I just closed my eyes, allowing the sun's warmth to spread across my body as I laid there in serenity.
The feeling was amazing. It was like I was a part of nature itself… what with all five senses consumed by the wonderful experience.
But soon enough my thoughts wandered back to the Shoku Warrior. Even in my dreams he haunted me.
I opened my eyes and rolled over so that I was lying on my side. I could see the beautiful flowers… there were so many, and all of different species. Daisies, daffodils, carnations… an infinite more.
I plucked one gently from its stem and started to pull of the petals.
"I love him…" I murmured to myself. "I love him not."
"I love him… I love him not."
Thus the process continued, until only one more petal remained.
"I love him," I quietly whispered, plucking the last one off.
I threw the empty stem away and picked a carnation this time. One with so many petals it would have been impossible to count.
"I love him… I love him not…"
But staring at the last petal, the same phrase was screaming to be let out.
"I love him…"
I shook my head stubbornly. No. It was just some weird coincidence.
I closed my eyes and picked another flower. I must have gone through ten but the result was still the same.
I love him…
I sighed and pushed myself up. It was crazy… impossible… I'd never believed in this kind of fate before. Magic, yes, once I joined the Xiaolin Temple. But little things like this?
Ten times in a row. What were the chances of that?
I picked one last flower. This would be the deciding factor.
"I love him… I love him not…"
There were two petals left. I didn't need to finish to know what the result would be.
What I didn't expect, however, was a shadow to fall over me.
Lifting my head in surprise, I saw that it was the carefree Wind Warrior.
A blush crept upon my face, despite my attempt to stop it. I dropped the flower, quickly standing up. His gaze rendered me weak, and I felt like I would melt in his glow. Before him I wasn't myself. I couldn't speak, could only look down.
"What are you doing here?" I finally managed.
He smiled. "I was training and then decided to go for a walk. When I saw you in the garden and figured I would join you."
My heart sped up. Was that supposed to mean something?
"I guess I just wanted to spend some time with you." He gave me a grin.
I could hardly breathe.
A moment of silence passed, and he asked me a question. Cocking his head toward the flower on the ground, he inquired, "What were you doing, plucking petals off of Master Fung's poor flowers?" He laughed then, the sound wonderfully charming.
My face only reddened even more.
"Nothing…" I quickly replied.
He raised an eyebrow and bent to pick the fallen flower up.
For a moment I was confused. What was he doing?
"I love you not," he suddenly said, and plucked one petal off. Then, seeing that he had my attention, he picked the last one off as well. He placed it in my hand and curled my fingers around it.
"I love you," he said, and I felt my world exploded with happiness.
AN: I just realized... I neither Kimiko nor Raimundo's name in this! I think it worked out because then it's like it could happen anywhere with anyone... :D
