The warriors sat together in the dining hall for lunch. Omi gulped down glass after glass of ice water. The heat from Kimiko's fire technique finally left his system. He put down his fifth glass and let out a quenching sigh.
"I have proven once more that water will always beat fire!" Omi announced. "I believe it is appropriate to say that I won our little match."
"The match was declared a draw, Omi." Kimiko implied.
"Perhaps, but within nature, water has and always will remain dominant over fire!"
Kimiko rolled her eyes and slurped her noodles.
"At least it's good to see you feelin' better, lil' buddy." said Clay.
"Yeah. We thought you were gonna get heatstroke." Raimundo added.
"Please! I am a Wudai Warrior!" Omi said proudly before taking a bite of rice. "It will take more than heat to defeat me!" His eyes glanced over to the door just as Wing entered to join the others. "Ooh! Wing! Come sit over here with me!" He waved.
Wing smiled and took the empty seat next to Omi. Raimundo followed Kimiko's example and rolled his eyes. Wing took a portion of the afternoon meal.
"So, how is studying the Shen Gong Wu coming along?" Omi asked.
"It's going okay, I guess." Wing replied, picking up rice with his chopsticks. "I've got a while before I catch up with you guys."
"Do not worry, my friend! Knowing you, I have full confidence that you will surpass my expectations!"
Wing chuckled. "Come on. That's just an exaggeration."
"It is no exaggeration! It is a fact!"
"Boy, do I miss the days when you couldn't talk."
"Those were the boring days!" Omi implied. "When I started talking, those were the great days! Remember when I devised that plan for us to get Dojo's almond cookies?"
"Oh, dear Yama! Don't remind me!" Wing laughed. "We almost got into so much trouble!"
Clay and Kimiko looked to one another in shock at first, but looked back at the two with rather fiendish grins.
"Well well, it looks like you've got some explainin' to do, Mr. Perfect Monk." Clay said, crossing his arms.
Wing rested his face into his hand and shook his head, smiling shyly. "Please don't tell them, Omi…! It's too embarrassing…!"
Kimiko leaned in with the same grin, enjoying Wing's humorous reluctance. "I want to hear all about it!"
Without hesitation, Omi stood on his chair and opened his mouth once again. Clay leaned his head in and listened to Omi's first childhood scheme with Wing's assistance. Kimiko, however, was listening, or rather eyeing a different story. Her focus was on Wing's body language to Omi's oral history. The upper half of his face was covered by his hands, but the bottom half showed it all. His cheeks were bright red and his mouth formed a big grin. It was clear that he was trying to desist his smile, but hearing the story wouldn't let him. He shook his head in his hands as Omi went into deeper detail followed by airy chuckles which then became audible laughter. Kimiko's fiendish grin receded into a gentle smile. She rested her cheek into her hand that was supported by her elbow on the table. Her eyes grew soft and her cheeks turned red and warm. Her heart steadily beating. It was cute to see him embarrassed. No doubt he had a sensitive side. A first clue to his personality. There were to be more to find in him, but for the time being, she stuck with enjoying his flustering.
Raimundo glared towards Wing and Omi, gripping a fork in his hand. His stomach churned. It was to his disappointment that the others were eating it up like Clay at an all-you-can-eat Texas buffet. What made this guy so great anyway? Ever since they brought him back to the temple, Omi gave him nothing but praise and respect. Raimundo spent years earning Omi's trust. Why was Wing the exception?
Raimundo let his thoughts cloud his hearing. He could only see the exchange of gestures and reactions between Wing and Omi. Omi continued to speak while Wing laughed harder and harder, almost to the verge of tearing up. He looked over to Clay and Kimiko who joined in the harmonic laughter. He grit his teeth hard and regained his hearing to the sound of his fork smacking against the table and hitting the floor. The clatter from the fork broke the laughter. The others were silenced. Their eyes looked to Raimundo as he rose from his chair and made his way to the exit.
"Raimundo! Where are you going?" Omi asked.
"I lost my appetite…" he replied, not bothering to look back.
"But I haven't gotten to the best part! It will make you laugh your donkey off!"
Clay and Kimiko groaned and shook their heads. Raimundo sighed heavily.
"You… feeling alright?" Wing asked, catching his breath with a small fit of chuckles.
Raimundo turned his head slightly, just enough so his eye glanced towards Wing. "Oh yeah… I wouldn't want to ruin your reminiscing with your little buddy, Windsor."
Wing's smile vanished as did his chuckles. His chest tightened from the mention of his unfavored name with ill-use. He was left unspoken as Raimundo walked out of sight. He looked down at the table and up at the others who were looking to him.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked.
Kimiko narrowed her eyes towards the empty doorway. "Hmmm. Something tells me he's brooding about something." she replied. "I think I'll go and have a word with him." She stood from her chair.
"I'll come along too." Clay said, following her cue. "Omi, ya mind keepin' Wing company while we go have a chat?"
"I shall take this responsibility with great honor!" Omi said, standing tall and proud, despite him being at least four feet tall. Once Clay was gone, Omi patted Wing's shoulder. "Do not feel down, my friend. Whenever I feel down, you know what cheers me up?"
"What's that?" Wing asked.
"A good sparring! Come! I want to see how much stronger you've become in these past three years!"
Wing smiled and stretched his arms. "Sparring sounds good to me." he said. "I could use a break from studying."
They quickly finished their lunch and made their way to the training arena. Meanwhile down the hall, Kimiko and Clay caught up with the Shoku warrior.
"Come on Rai, what's bugging you?" Kimiko asked dryly with her hands on her hips.
"Yeah. If somethin's upsettin' you, you can tell us." Clay implied.
Raimundo let out a soft groan and turned to them. "Doesn't it bother you that Omi has so much respect for Wing?"
"What's wrong with that?" Kimiko asked.
Raimundo's right eye twitched. "What's wrong with that? It took us years to earn Omi's trust! Yet the moment we met Windsor, he and Omi get all friendly and giddy like two girlfriends with the latest gossip! Omi's practically praising the guy like he's some kind of idol!"
"Now hold on there, Raimundo." Clay interrupted. "The way I figure, they have some history together. It's like when a pig bein' on the road for so long finally comes home to his mud pit. Is that really somethin' to be riled up about?"
"It riles me up because I had to put in the most effort to get where I am with Omi, and then out of the blue, this guy shows up and now they're the Dynamic Duo? He can't just walk in here and be Omi's best friend! I worked for that!"
Kimiko and Clay looked at each other before cracking smiles and snickers.
"What's so funny?!" Raimundo yelled.
"You're jealous that they make better friends, aren't you?" Kimiko asked, smirking.
Raimundo's cheeks flustered with red. "I'm not jealous!" he exclaimed.
Clay chuckled. "Rai, your face says it all."
Raimundo grit his teeth, crossed his arms and looked away.
"Don't you think you're getting a little worked up about this?" Kimiko asked.
Raimundo took a breath. "Maybe I am. That's not the only thing bothering me."
"So, you are jealous."
Raimundo growled.
Kimiko grinned and cleared her throat. "Sorry. Continue."
"Isn't it strange that Master Fung and the other monks never told us about Wing? They talk to him like he's some kind of big deal. We don't know anything about him besides being a Dragon-in-training. We ought to have the right to be let in on everything. So why keep something this important from us?"
Kimiko approached Raimundo. She reached up and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Rai, I think you need to chill." she said. "I know this is a big surprise to you. It is to all of us. I don't know why Master Fung didn't tell us. Maybe there's a reason, maybe there's not. But this isn't the time to ask these kinds of questions. Right now, we should make Wing feel welcome. He's only been here for a day. Give it some time. We'll get to know him sooner or later. And who knows, maybe you and Wing will have something in common. So, there's no need to get so worked up, okay?"
Raimundo looked down at Kimiko. Her hands were gentle on his shoulders as well as her smile. It was like the weight on his shoulders were suddenly taken off. He smiled back and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks, Kimiko." he replied. "I guess I needed some reassurance." He looked over to Clay. "From both of you."
"What're friends for, Raimundo?" Clay said. "Come on. Let's get on back and rejoin Omi and Wing. We can start gettin' to know him over a good meal if it's still hot."
Just as they were heading back to the dining hall, their ears picked up the faint sounds of hits being thrown followed by battle cries and laughter from outside. They rushed out from the temple. Leading them to the training area, they stopped and could only watch nearby as Omi and Wing sparred. They were introduced to Wing's skills in combat.
Omi let out multiple yells as he threw a fast barrage of punches. Wing stayed light on his feet and shifted himself as quick fists moved past him for the most part with the exceptions of a few mid openhand swats. He blocked an oncoming reverse roundhouse kick with one hand and grabbed Omi by his gi with the other. With a pivot, he hurled Omi away from him and towards the stone wall. Omi reacted quick and landed feet first into the wall with his knees bent on impact like a spring. He leaped from the wall. He landed to the ground in a roll with one arm and was back on his feet. He took his fighting stance.
Wing took his own: he pulled his right leg back. Both legs were set in a wide and strong foundation while slightly bent. He tucked his right arm back under his torso with a closed fist against his side and above his sash. He brought his left arm forward and bent it upwards as he held up two slightly closed fingers and a thumb.
Both were still, waiting. Their eyes stared at one another with anticipation and their breaths kept steady and calm. Who would make the first move?
Omi took the chance. He slowly slid a foot forward before taking a dash. Wing took initiative and bolted forward as well. It was going to be a head on collision. Just as they were about to make impact, Omi answered his impulse. He took a leap and formed another reverse roundhouse kick in flight. Without thinking, Wing dropped to his knees and slid under Omi's swinging leg. He shifted himself back onto his feet just as Omi landed. Their backs faced one another from three feet apart. Omi spun around and threw a side kick, but Wing vanished. He looked up and caught Wing above his head in the motion of a side flip. There was a playful smile on Wing's face as he looked down at Omi, catching a glimpse of astonished eyes and an excited grin while in mid-air. His hair lightly brushed the top of Omi's head. Back on the ground, Wing jumped back took his fighting stance again. Omi still had the grin and charged at Wing. They both let out battle shouts as they attacked. Punches and kicks were exchanged, but all were avoided with swift movement and acrobatics as well as blocks with firm limbs. So far, neither one could land a single blow. Most of the sounds that came out of their mouths was laughter.
"You have grown much stronger, my fine companion!" Omi exclaimed, ducking from a right hook and blocking an axe kick. "You are indeed getting closer to exceeding my expectations as a Xiaolin warrior!" He jumped to the side and reached forward.
Wing smiled as he swatted away a palm strike and moved aside from a high front snap kick. "The feeling is mutual!" he replied. "Using jump strikes is a clever tactic with your size! You have improved in these few years!"
Their sparring became both a demonstration and entertainment to Clay and Kimiko.
"Hoo-eee!" Clay called out, waving his hat. "That Wing sure can flip, can't he? He flips and jumps like a jackrabbit in a cactus field!"
"He'll make a perfect member of our team now that we know what he can do!" Kimiko said with her arms up to her chest and moving up and down on her toes. "I have to admit, he is pretty cool when he fights! What do you think, Raimundo?"
Raimundo had enough. He couldn't take seeing them get along better, especially during combat. He clenched his fists and stormed off.
"Raimundo?" Kimiko asked, glanced over to Raimundo walking away from her and Clay. "Oh, come on!" she yelled. "What happened with not getting so worked up?!"
Her yelling halted Wing and Omi's sparring as they looked to Raimundo who was making his way around the corner of the dining hall. Wing felt a chill run up his spine as Raimundo turned his head to give him a quick stink eye before disappearing from sight.
"Omi… I don't think Raimundo likes me very much..." Wing said softly.
Omi looked to Wing and then back to where Raimundo was. He scratched his chin. "Hmmm. Perhaps Raimundo realizes you're better than him and envies you."
"I'd rather not jump to any conclusions yet…"
Just as soon as he thought everything was going to be alright, Raimundo's eyes burned that hope into ashes. Even sparring with Omi no longer cheered him up.