Yay! Done it so quickly! I'm happy now because I suddenly found pleasure in writing at this story again…not that before I didn't had any…I just lost it on the way. It sometimes happens to me! Anyway…on with the story!

An Old Acquaintance

It was as thought a lightning bolt struck her, its raw energy malfunctioning her brain, burning it in an inferno of flames. She stopped thinking, her dazed eyes staring forward at the ruins of her house as her feet dragged her lifelessly toward it. Her pink orbs moved around it in hope of finding a place spared by the fire, but she only found memories.

Wherever she looked, an avalanche of thoughts kept hitting her. She inhaled deeply, her eyes stinging like being stabbed with thousands of needles. She quickly redeemed herself, clasping her hands on her face before the tears were out. She took in a shaky breath and turned around when a hand lightly squeezed her shoulder. She managed a smile as Clay took a hold of her hand and embraced her tenderly.

'Yes…everything is alright! I'm safe!'

"Don't worry! I won't let anything happen to mah lady!"

Karyne buried her face in his shirt, her sobs and cries being muffled as she let out all her pain and despair. It was just too much for her to bear. So many deaths on her conscious, so many lives taken away by her hands. And for what? For distracting her from the guilt she felt over her family's death.

Clay just stood there, holding his hands around the girl, gently stroking her back. When she finally calmed down, the feline looked up at him, her cheeks red and her eyes puffy and teary. "We should go somewhere else until I put some order in my thoughts."

He nodded. "Whatever ya say!"

They sat on a bench down at the lake. They didn't want to talk, afraid their words would break the silence hanging over their heads. They simply watched the water waving in the breeze as the fresh scent hit them head on. Karyne leaned her head on Clay's shoulder, eyes closed almost falling asleep in the peace and quiet.

The older boy, thought, wasn't feeling as relaxed as his girlfriend. He averted his gaze to the sky, seemingly absorbed by its reddish shade. He tried to push the bad side of his thoughts away but it wasn't as easy as he thought. They had to come back screaming like a siren that something…everything was wrong.

They were being followed.

By who? That was the question that kept nagging his brain. Since they entered the Underworld everybody looked at them so…why was so alarming now?

He sighed closing his blue eyes. When he opened them a black raven shot through the sky, its blood red eyes shining mysteriously. Clay instantly thought of Chase Young but they were in another realm so the chances were slim for him to find them. His body tensed as he watched the raven flew in the distance toward a castle built in the black stone walls of the Underworld.

He looked down at Karyne soundly asleep in his arms. He shook his head, deciding it would be better to let her rest for a while. Who knew what they would get themselves into later? He pulled his hat over his eyes as he slowly fell in a deep sleep as well.

-(-)-

The raven flew through the opened window and into a red tinted room, landing effortlessly on the arm of a chair sitting in front of a fire. A hand gently petted its feathers and the raven relaxed under its master care. The man stroking the bird stared deeply into the pit of dancing blue flames, his dark eyes glittering with the ferocity of the fire burning in front of him. A sinister smirk crept on his lips as he looked down at the animal.

"So she is here! It was the time for her to come back home!"

The bird stayed quiet still receiving the treatment for a job well done. The man turned to look back at the fire as his hand slowly sneaked to the raven's throat, grabbing it mercilessly while the poor bird struggled in vain in his strong grip.

"Finally something to do in this dungeon!"

His words echoed in the room, their venom staining the walls and making their crimson color almost shine in joy. The man stood up, the bird falling lifelessly on the carpet while he walked out of the room. As he closed the door, a tendril off blue fire shot out of the chimney, grabbing the raven's death body and pulling it inside before vanishing into thin air.

-(-)-

Karyne woke up to see Clay standing near the water, hands on his hips and a thoughtful look present on his face. She sat up rubbing her eyes and walked up to him. She gently cupped his hand into hers, leaning on his shoulder as he turned to look at her.

"Is something wrong, hon'?"

He was silent for a moment. "I think we're in for a lot of trouble!"

The feline laughed. "Well, we kinda came here looking for them, didn't we?"

Clay cracked a smile saying. "Are we going now, or do you still…"

Karyne looked down her smile turning upside down. "I'll be fine! We should go now!"

With a last look at the lake, and a small peek at her now destroyed house, the two teens both turned around and walked toward the black palace carved in stone until…

"Not so fast buddy!" a brawny, gray skinned boy stepped in front of them, cutting their way. He had spiky black hair, and black eyes with horns coming out of his forehead, elbows and knees. He wore only some black trousers, leaving his muscular torso revealed. He looked down at them, his black eyes as hard as steel.

"Hello Koran!" Both boys glanced at Karyne, Clay surprised while the other narrowed his eyes.

"Karyne!" he tilted his head in a way of saying 'hi' but remained quiet after that.

"So why are you here?" she asked again crossing her arms. "I doubt it's a courtesy meeting!"

"No it's not!" Koran closed his eyes snapping his fingers. "I've got some orders to carry out!" at his signal other demons came out from their hiding spots, coming closer to the two.

Karyne sighed. "And I thought you got over me dumping you fifty years ago!"

Clay frowned at her and in other situation he would have asked for explications but the demons closing in and ready to kill forced him to stay focused. The two of them took a stance, back to back as a circle formed around them.

"Attack!" at Koran's command they all leaped thrusting their claws or blades forward while Clay and Karyne dove down in order to dodge them.

Clay hurled his fist into the first guy's jaw before coming back with a roundhouse kick to his head knocking him into another and sending them both stumbling to the ground. He ducked as a sword came swishing above his head and slid in a low sweep kick, tripping his opponent before shoving his elbow in his gut.

Meanwhile, Karyne draw out her katana, slashing and cutting each and everyone that dared to attack her. She flipped backwards landing gracefully on her feet before bringing the blade horizontally with the ground and slicing through a demon's arm. She spun in place, throwing her leg in his head and then hand sprinted forward and away from the hit of a sharp lash.

The feline crouched down, her pink eyes studying her opponents as they closed the distance. A smirk crossed on her lips as she raised her sword, gripping the hilt in both hands. A battle cry escaped her throat as she jumped in the heat of the fight. Her knee made contact with one's head, her claws scratched other's skin and so on until a heap of bloody and bruised bodies stood around her.

She looked up in time to see Clay knocking out the last one and turned to her grinning, before glancing at Koran.

"Well…that was something!" exclaimed the demon impassive.

Karyne stared at him, her features unreadable. "Do we really have to do this?" she asked, a small drop of sorrow leaking through her words.

"We can avoid this partner! Just let us pass!" butted in Clay hoping to finish everything without a fight.

Koran on the other side, was thinking completely differently. He slowly took a stance, his body tense and black eyes flashing red for a second. Karyne sighed sheathing her katana and dropping in a crouch along with Clay. Koran, in front of them, flexed his fingers, his eyes glaring at his two enemies.

"Let's pump the party then!"

-(-)-

Raimundo sighed watching the sun disappear behind the mountain tops. He glanced over his shoulder at Omi and Kimiko getting up on Dojo and smiled as he ran up to them.

"Everything ready?" he asked grabbing the anorak from the sill and jumping on the dragon.

"As ready as it can be, boss!" answered Dojo waiting for Kimiko's confirmation before he could take off.

The Japanese girl was tapping impatiently on her phone until a bip was heard. She smiled victoriously and looked at the boys. "I've found him!"

"Good job girl!" she glanced at Raimundo sweetly when Omi shouted from behind her. "What are we waiting for then? Let's stone and sway!"

"ROCK AND ROLL!"

"What's the difference?"

-(-)-

Karyne blocked a punch from Koran with her forearm but the force of the blow was too strong and she was knocked off her feet. As she fell she quickly placed her palms on the ground and tossed her heel in his chin. Koran smirked and snatched her ankle before it made contact, throwing her in a nearby tree.

"Did you got soft on your stay at the surface?"

He ducked to the ground as a boulder flew past him and turned around in time to see Clay's fist. He frowned but stood his ground, beginning a hand to hand combat with the xiaolin dragon. Clay parried his every strike coming with strong hits of his own, forcing the demon to retreat.

Koran rolled out of the way as Karyne's claws passed by inches away from his hair and twisted in a butterfly kick, smacking Clay in his shoulder. The cowboy staggered clutching his soaring arm while Karyne leaped in the air coming down with a kick to the demon's head. He got out of the way but was stopped as stone walls suddenly surrounded him.

"Razor Roots!" Clay clasped his hands together as sharp wooden roots came out of the ground piercing through the stone ball. He glanced at Karyne who smiled and let go of his hands right when the stone cage exploded revealing Koran encircled by a red aura.

His eyes turned a crimson shade and a scowl adorned his face as his claws dug holes in the ground. His body shown only a few cuts but the most disrupting was the insane grin on his lips. "That was pathetic! Can't you do better human?"

"I doubt ya wanna see bette', but if ya insist! Karyne stay aside!" Clay fell in a fighting position, in the corner of his eye watching the pink haired girl shifting her gaze between them. He tightened his fists and shoved them in the ground as Koran ran to him.

"Wudai Crater Earth!" the ground cracked under him reaching to the black haired demon and pulling him down. Clay leaped in the air, tossing his fist in his jaw while Koran struggled to break free. "Sonic Punch!"

The strength of the attack literally split the ground in half, knocking the demon in the earth. As Clay came with another strike, Koran managed to roll out of the way, sliding his leg under his opponent and swiftly pulling it back before throwing the horn on his elbow straight for his neck.

Clay brought his arm up just in time to avoid the deadly hit, the horn only scratching deeply into his skin. He used the earth to propel himself backwards and to dodge a kick that smashed the rocks he has just been standing on, bending his body and preparing for his next attack.

Koran flipped in front of him launching a sudden punch in his stomach that took the dragon off guard and sent him flying in a tree. Karyne gasped reaching for her sword but she soon let it go closing her eyes. She inhaled deeply watching as Clay got up and hurled the tree back at him only for Koran to smash it in two and leap again at each other.

"Come on Clay! Finish him already!"

"Seismic Kick, Earth!" The cowboy finally landed a swift kick in the demon's jaw, unbalancing him before coming down with a punch in his chest. He prepared for another punch when Koran gripped his wrist, digging his sharp horn in his gut. The boy groaned in pain but didn't pulled back, using his free hand to smack his head.

The demon fell down, his vision temporarily a blur and the blood trickling down his chin. He looked up when everything became black around him. Clay clutched his bleeding side, letting the stones fell down his arm and smiled triumphantly. Karyne came beside him, kissing his cheek and helped him sit down.

"That was some really macho demonstration!" chuckled the girl as she took a look at his injury. "Why were you so keen on fighting him anyway?"

Clay sighed letting his head fall back. "It's gonna sound stupid to ya!"

"Oh come on!" she rent some cloth and used it clean a little the wound. "Promise I won't laugh!"

"Fine…Was he really yer boyfriend?"

Karyne stopped, the cloth handing in midair. She looked at him, her eyes wide opened. "You want to tell me that you almost got yourself killed only because you wanted to prove you strength to my ex?"

He smiled sheepishly at her rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorta…"

The feline closed her eyes, slowly closing her mouth and shook her head amused. "Boys will be boys I guess!"

"Right! Let's move on!" he tried to get up but was immediately pushed back by Karyne who looked sternly at him, like a nurse on a patient. "We're not going anywhere until I'm sure you'll be able to keep up with me in a fight. And trust me, I'll need you by my side in what will come up next!"

Clay brushed some hair out of her eyes trying to subdue the concern filling her beautiful orbs and stroked her cheek. "Everything will be fine!"

The girl smiled back. "I know!"

-(-)-

"Are you sure we're on the right way?" asked Dojo looking confused around him. "We've been looking around for hours and nada!" he glanced at Kimiko but she was busy talking with Raimundo and Omi so he gave up muttering to himself something about respectless children.

"Oh fine! I won't interrupt your little chat. Just go ahead, see if I care!" he climbed on some rocks and took a deep breath watching over the impressive valleys spreading beneath his…tail. He was about to get down when a small flash of light caught his eyes. The dragon approached the source and find a narrowed opening in the stone leading underground.

"Um…guys! I think I've found our way in!"

So, this chapter was more of a filler indeed…but it also had some action right? And the rest of the gang appeared, as well as the bad guy! Three guesses who he is! *rolls eyes*

See ya later!

angel-devil