Exhausted, three monks in training stumbled into Raimundo's room. "I can't feel my legs. " moaned Raimundo falling into bed with a groan.
"I'm more tired than a three legged dog in a mud run." Clay said between pants after falling next to him.
"Master Fung must be most upset with us," Omi groaned as he too tumbled into the heap. Kimiko was still hard at work, washing the roof as Dojo scrubbed the windows. Both were just as exhausted but didn't get the luxury of rest so it was the perfect, and maybe the only, time to plan.
Raimundo was the first to sit up wearily. He decided that if they were going to plan it had to be now, even if they were exhausted they needed to move. "Ok we need a plan. This is probably the only chance we'll have without Kimiko interfering so we have to make it work. " He looked at both boys seriously and the stare had them focusing what was left of their exhausted attention on him.
"We should use the Golden Tiger Claws! "Omi offered enthusiastically.
Clay nodded. "Good idea lil partner we can use it to get in."
Raimundo began to think, then with a snap he completed a plan. "We can arrive at the pillar to the right and behind the throne. It had the largest dark shadows," he said with authority.
"Chase keeps all his favorite things in his room. It should be down the leftmost corridor. It is the fourth door to the right," Omi added.
"We'll need the Serpent's Tail to get through the door. It's magically locked and looks like part of the wall." Declared Raimundo. Clay simply looked back and forth between the two as they planned. Omi had been first Chase's apprentice, then his feline warrior so it made sense for him to know the warlords mountain home, but Raimundo? Why in the Sam Hills would he know so much, especially since most of his information involved the best way to sneak inside without detection. How often would he have had to visit to know so much? Clay thought for a moment before coming to the prompt conclusion that he didn't want to know and refocused just as Omi and Raimundo were finishing up.
"So we have a plan." Raimundo nodded his head in affirmation of his statement before continuing, "We'll leave in three hours so that we can get some rest before we start, we'll have to be quiet and quick if we want to get out of this with all of our limbs intact. Remember we won't take Jack unless he's in danger, otherwise he's safer with Chase than here with Kimiko. Does everyone agree?"
"Agreed." Came two synced voices.
"Ok then, I'll see you in three hours, sleep well and don't tell Kimiko." Raimundo concluded looking directly at Omi. The two nodded and hurried of to their rooms. All three monks set their alarms, small clocks which had been gifts from Kimiko. They then feel asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows.
Meanwhile, Kimiko, who was almost done with her work on the roof, got a message on her phone. As Dojo dozed in a window sill, Kimiko check and saw that the boys had set their alarms to around the same time. "What are they up to now?" Kimiko wondered and set her own alarm from her phone. She finished up the roof and headed to bed herself determined to see what they were hiding from her.
Chase sat and read in his library. He still hadn't found much about either of his research subjects but he wasn't discouraged. He would find the answer eventually either by further research or by firsthand experience. He relaxed back into the large armchair that was one of his favorite pieces in the library. Now that he was toddler sized it was even bigger and more comfortable than before. Chase stretched his limbs. He'd been in the library for hours; he's earned a little break to check on Jack and nap.
Chase hopped out of his large chair and walked quickly down the halls, eager to check on his charge.
The walk was longer than usual with Chase's new short and slightly chubby legs. Still he didn't use any magic because he didn't know which spells would drain him, nor did he know which changes might make this change permanent, after all he was an immortal and did not age. If the wu had done nothing to change that then he would remain as a big eyed chubby cheeked baby forever. Or at least until he stole the reversing mirror to fix it. Until he had more information, any unnecessary magic would be cut off. Not to say that it was going to be easy, his current life would be much easier if he had retained his previous strength and stamina, but one had to adjust in times of need or struggle, and this was definitely a time of struggle.
It took Chase fifteen minutes of walking to arrive at his destination, and after standing on his toes to reach the handle, Chase let himself into his room. It was as quiet and dark as always when Chase walked silently into his room. The baby was still as Chase peaked over the low crib to see Jack happily dreaming and kicking the covers off which made Chase chuckle. It seemed that his hair had grown in his sleep and Chase gently brushed it out of Jack's face causing the baby to nuzzle his hand. Another near silent chuckle was his response as he quietly went to get the babe some more food before waking him up. A lioness in graceful human form was summoned to make the food, for it would take too long to do himself still, he followed her to insure that she made it to his satisfaction and to get a bite to eat himself.
As he left the room a relieved sigh filled the room. "That was too close." Said Raimundo. The boys had slept for two hours, grabbed their Wu then teleported from the vault to Chase's lair. Omi had found that he could picture the room almost exactly so they had skipped a couple of steps and bought themselves extra time. Then almost as soon as they arrived the door started to open. With a look of disbelieve the boys had frozen only to hear a whisper "Shroud of Shadows" Chase had walked in checked on the baby and left none the wiser. Still it was way too close for comfort. Cue the (rightfully) smug character who'd saved them all. Kimiko.
"Aren't you glad I came? Maybe next time I won't have to sneak to get in the loop. Speaking of "in the loop", anyone want to tell me what we're doing in Chase Young's lair?" The next sigh was one of defeat. Kimiko's arrival, while beneficial in some ways, complicated things. While the boys shuffled their feet, still reluctant to fill her in, Kimiko looked around to see if she could figure out out herself. She examined the dim, tastefully decorated room. She spotted the crib just as Raimundo started speaking, "Look Kimiko-"
"You're here to visit him! That's why you've been sneaking around behind my back? For that little" She paused as if too flustered to get the words out. "little freak!" All of this was thankfully said in a whisper. There was a flurry of movement as a quick game of rock paper scissors took place between Clay and Raimundo. A groan as Raimundo lost and Clay dragged Omi to the crib. A flurry of whispers took place as a hushed argument was started.
Clay and Omi looked down to see baby Jack was now awake and cooing. Omi was mesmerized, he'd never seen a baby before. "He's even smaller than me." He whispered in awe now that he had the chance to get a better, not to mention less frantic, look at him. Jack giggled at the sight of the big cowboy and the little yellow human. He reached out tiny little hands wanting to be picked up, but the cowboy was worried about his scent getting on the baby and cluing Chase off about who'd been in here any more than they already did. He did lean closer and speak to the baby gently, "Hello little partner." The baby's smile widened as he spoke and he redoubled his efforts. Still the cowboy was too far away and the baby wrinkled his nose in frustration. Suddenly, the baby remembered his caretaker and made a decision. Again with all his might be reached for the cowboy and this time there was a rip and then laughing with glee he managed to snag the big cowboy's hat. There were twin gasps of surprise. Clay retrieved his hat from the baby and looked critically.
Omi was stunned, "Are baby's supposed to do that?" He whispered.
"Looks like Jack had been keeping a few secrets." Clay murmured.
Thank you for all of your support. I love the reviews favorites and follows it really encourages me to write more!
For those of you who are also reading mistakes I have a am working on the next couple of chapters with a friend who also writes. It's something to look forward to but meanwhile here's another chapter of Keeping Secrets!