The Xiaolin Chronicles

Season TWO

Episode 10: Nun of Your Business

"I love you. How can I prove it to you, my dearest?"

"Oh, I know you love me… but you love other girls too… I-I can't be with you!"

"My darling, I will become a one-woman man if that woman is you."

"Awwwww, Seto-Hiro is so freaken hot!" Kimiko cheered.

"How can you watch this fake shit? It's so bad…" Rika mumbled.

It had been a couple days since the battle at Arko's desert palace, and everyone was settling in, enjoying their free time. Kimiko and Rika were watching Shojo Dramas on tivo in Kimiko's dark room, wearing their PJ's and eating unhealthy snacks.

"Yeah, it's totally fake, but the guy's so hot! I mean, just look at him…"

"He's an actor, he's supposed to be hot, otherwise there would be no point to this crap. Besides, I have a boy on my mind that I'd rather focus on…"

Kimiko's eyes widened. Rika? interested in a boy? "WHAT, REALLY? WHO?"

Rika smirked. "Toki, of course! He's my little prince of adorableness!" She lifted the cat up from her lap.

"Mew!"

"Ugh, you've fallen for that cat, it's so pathetic." Kimiko grumbled. "You need to find somebody, girl!"

"I already told you," She kissed the cat on the forehead, "I'm taken."

"Well, at least you're going for something, instead of staying away from boys completely."

"No! Seto! Please, I'm a married woman! We shouldn't be doing…ah…AH!"

"Good God, this is like porn!" Rika covered Toki's eyes.

"Oh relax, he's just nipping her breasts."

"H-how can you say stuff like that so easily? This kind of stuff should be more secretive!"

"Uh, it is: Why do you think we're watching it in the dark?"

"…Good point."

Kimiko snickered.

"Is something amusing, Kimi?"

"Naaaah, I was just thinking…"

"About who?"

"Don't you mean, 'about what'?"

"No, I meant who. Who were you thinking about, while this scene was being displayed, Kimiko?"

"Heh-heh-heh, you're analyzing too much…"

"Or maybe I'm analyzing just enough."

Then the door busted open, letting in the light.

"GIRLS!"

"Eeek! Dojo! Turn the lights off!"

"A Shen Gong Wu activated, The Book of Ramses, we gotta go!" He eyed the screen, watching for a moment as Seto groped the girl's thigh. "I'm not even going to ask."

...

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The monks were soaring over a church when Omi pulled out the scroll.

"The Book of Ramses: Once activated, you are able to summon snakes that obey you and attack the enemy."

"Sweet, I'd totally enjoy my own army of kickass snakes!" Raimundo commented.

"Snakes are quite fascinating," Jaku commented, "But extremely dangerous. We better be careful with this Wu if the enemy shows up."

"WHAT UP, XIAOLIN LOSERS!"

Jaku grimaced at Jack's appearance. "Damn, I knew there was going to be conflict."

Dojo landed on a plain of grass next to the white, majestic, cathedral-like chapel. Omi spotted the Wu within the church, being held by a statue of an angel.

"We must get inside that place!" He concluded.

"But we can't just break in there, little Omi." Clay retorted.

"Jack Bots! Get the Wu!" The bots crashed through the windows and giant mosaics to enter the church.

"Well, that's one way to do it." Raimundo mumbled. The Xiaolin warriors ran in after Jack.

"Clay! Some assistance?" Jaku called out as they were running.

"You got it, partner!"

The two dragons came together to prepare their element. "Wudai Element: EARTH!" Jaku and Clay shook the concrete within the chapel so much, it flew up in massive chunks and slammed into some of the flying robots.

"Kimiko, fire!"

"You got it, Jaku!"

"WUDAI ELEMENT: FIRE!" A storm of fireball rained down upon the second batch of bots.

"Rika, tag team!"

"Yes, Raimundo!"

"WUDAI ELEMENT: WIND!" Using the air conditioning system, Rai and Rika blew a gust of wind toward the bots that sent them flying and crashing into each other and the walls.

Omi managed to hop over all the mayhem and reach the Wu, but Jack was also holding the Book of Ramses.

"Jack Spicer! I challenge you to a-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know; a Xiaolin showdown! I wager my mantis flip coin against your Orb of Tornami!"

"The game is a race to the angelic statue! Whoever can leap over the church seats and reach the statue first, wins!"

"You're on, squirt!"

As the Showdown was preparing, Jaku heard something horrifying outside.

He decided to speculate out the window to see if what he had heard was correct.

He heard the scream again.

"Guys… did you hear that?"

"Hm? Hear what, Jaku buddy?"

He continued to glare outside until he saw something.

A nun, was running away from something; a flying creature of some sort.

"Bloody hell, that girl needs help!" Jaku bolted out of the room.

"Jaku, where are you going?" Rika followed him.

"Huh? What's going on?" Raimundo intruded.

"Jaku took off!" Kimiko raced after him as well.

"Dammit; hey Clay, stay here and make sure Omi is okay after the showdown, I'm gonna see what the hell is going on!"

"Got it, Rai-buddy!"

"Um, I think I'll just stay with you, Clay!" Dojo quivered. "I'm getting' a bad feeling from outside!"

The four monks raced out into the yard.

"AHHH GOD HELP ME!" The nun was running away, from a black creature with bat wings and in tattered clothes, stalking over her and about to attack.

"ARROW SPARROW!" Kimiko's flames reverted the beast back. It squealed out in pain, and the monks had to cover their ears and squeeze their eyes shut from it shrieks of pain.

When Jaku managed to open his eyes, the creature was right in his face.

It had long white hair, red eyes, and fangs that were covered in slime. The monster grabbed Jaku by the waist and flew him onto the roof.

"JAKU!" Kimiko screamed.

"Make sure the nun is okay, I'll get him!" Raimundo ordered.

Jaku went flying into the nearest wall. When he was able to stand from his gaze, the creature caught his attention. It lowered its wings and came right into Jaku's face once more.

For some reason, Jaku was petrified, but not with fear; he just couldn't get his body moving!

"W-what are you?"

The pale face, red eyed creature touched Jaku's cheek, and began to hiss.

"BLADE OF THE NEBULA!" The gust of wind whipped the creature in the back, and it soared up high into the air to escape the element. It growled at Raimundo, then it took its stance and swopped down towards him.

"Be careful, Rai!"

Raimundo held his blade up in defense, but somebody from behind pushed him back and stood in front of him.

"Be gone, beast!" The man had dirty blonde hair, glasses, and was wearing a black, pastor's outfit. He lifted up a book at the monster, and it scrambled back to avoid its power. The monster flapped its wings for a moment and remained in the same spot, as if pondering something, then it's attention turned towards Jaku again.

Jaku's eyes widened. It was as if the thing was staring into his soul and judging him. It shrieked once more, then flew away.

"Are you alright, child?" The pastor asked.

"Uh, y-yeah. You okay over there, Jaku?"

Jaku was still staring at where the monster had been.

"Hey, Jaku?"

"Huh?" He snapped his head towards Raimundo. "Uh, s-sorry, Rai… Yeah, I'm okay."

The pastor leapt down to where Rika and Kimiko were, tending to the nun.

"Maria, are you alright?"

The nun was lying in the grass, with the girls beside her, when she looked up at him with a smile.

"Jose, I am okay, father." She sat up slowly. "These children, they have saved me."

"God hath brought them here today to save you, sister." He held up his golden cross to his chest.

"Hey, what's going on?" Raimundo and Jaku joined them.

"Children, you have been cursed." The pastor enlightened. "I am Father Jose, and this is Sister Maria. We have been traveling throughout this world, hunting down the thing that just attacked here today."

"What was that thing, exactly?" Kimiko asked.

"A descendant of Vlad the Impaler. Or, as everyone calls him these days, Dracula."

Everyone's eyes widened.

"A vampire? That thing, was a vampire? B-but, it's the middle of the day!" Raimundo replied.

"With every special victim, this creature becomes stronger. It has become tolerant to sunlight, you see, however the divine powers of the Lord are still able to keep it at bay."

"Father Jose and I have been chosen to slay this demon, and bring good will to all men in doing so."

"That's… good." Was all Rika could say.

"Are there more of you?" Maria asked.

"Uh, yes; they're inside…"

"I have kicked Jack Spicer's buns!" Omi proclaimed. He and Clay came racing out, holding their Wu in victory, and stared at the scene in confusion. "What is going off out here?"

Jose helped Maria stand up. "Is this all of you? Who are you agile children?"

"We are Xiaolin monks!" Omi proclaimed. "Who are you?"

"Xiaolin monks?" Jose echoed. The two clergy exchanged glances at each other. "I believe I have heard of Xiaolin before. Perhaps your teaching could reveal the appropriate approach to defeat the demon. May we travel with you to your temple and look upon your scrolls for any information?"

"Uh, you can come with us, but we'll have to ask Master Fung if you are allowed to look at the scrolls."

"That is fine." Jose turned to Maria. "Perhaps we can fight off this monster yet, dear sister."

Dojo (with quite a heavy load of people), carried the monks and their new acquaintances to the temple.

"Are you okay, Jaku?" Kimiko asked. She was the second to last person sitting on Dojo, Rika was behind her, Jaku was in front of her, and Raimundo was in front of him. "That vampire took you up and lifted you onto the roof!"

"I didn't mean to worry you, love. Sorry, but I'm okay." He assured her.

"Okay, that's good."

"Thanks for worrying about me though, Kimi." He smiled at her. "Oh! I just thought of something! If you're not busy, tonight…"

When the words left his lips, it was like everything had gone in slow motion for Kimiko. She saw the head of Raimundo turn to face the situation, a slight tap on the back from Rika, and Jaku's cheeks begin to flush.

"Um, sorry! I can't!"

"B-but, I didn't even tell you what it was yet." He frowned.

She chuckled, with a hint of anxiety. "I know! It's just, I'm, uh, busy tonight."

"Oh, okay. Well, maybe in the morning, after we get our chores done-"

"Uh, actually, I'm not sure if tomorrow's so great either. B-but I'll let you know!"

"Well alright then." He replied with disappointment. He turned his head back to face forward and Raimundo did the same, satisfied.

Kimiko sighed in relief. She had avoided that spit-fire for the moment.

"Oh Master Fuuung!" Dojo sang. "We have holy guests with us!"

Raimundo gave the details to Fung about the whole situation to him, in the privacy of his quarters.

"So can they stay and read the scrolls, Master Fung?"

Master Fung rubbed his chin as he thought. "Perhaps they can. It sounds like they're in quite a bit of trouble. They do seem to need our help…"

"Alright, cool!"

"However, I would like them to stay for dinner, and I will observe them for the remainder of this day. You would do well to do the same, Raimundo."

"Ugh, okay I guess." Raimundo mumbled. "I just wanted them to leave soon, in case that vamp decided to show up and attack them again."

Fung looked out his window. "It probably will. And when it does, as Shoku warrior, you should be ready."

Raimundo informed their guests that they had to wait for moonlight before they could read the scrolls, and the clergy agreed in nonchalance. In the meantime, Raimundo tried to inform his fellow monks secretly to keep an eye on them and on the temple in case any blood-suckers showed up.

During this time, Kimiko was strolling down the hall way with her guilty pleasure, Goo Zombies, in hand.

"My, you look busy."

Kimiko's attention shot up to see Jaku standing in front of her, rested against the wall with his arms folded.

"Oh, hey Jaku, I was just going to my room, to get to work…"

"Uh-huh." He muttered staidly. "Is everything okay, love? I don't mean to pry, but you have been acting kind of distant lately."

"Really? I hadn't noticed." She lied. How could she tell him she was done flirting with him? She had made up with Raimundo, and she didn't want any more holes in their friendship. She didn't however, want to hurt Jaku's feelings either.

"Well, you know, if you need to talk about anything, I'm here." He informed her.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind!" She ran passed him.

"Uh, okay then… talk to you-"

SLAM! She shut her door.

"Fantastic…" He mumbled. He kicked the rug under his foot.

"Does something ale you, brother?"

Jaku turned to see the nun standing there.

"Oh, hello miss," He said cheerfully. "I'm alright, I suppose. Are you comfortable?"

"I am now, that I have seen your gentle, pure face."

Jaku winced. This was a little weird… Was he getting hit on? By a nun?

"Pure faces always bring joy to me. It saddens me, however, when they are cursed,"

"Um…?"

She smiles warmly. "Think nothing of pain and sensual desires, my boy. You have accomplished much, I'm sure. I hope you have truly enjoyed your time here, in this world." She bowed to him before she left.

"Creepy…" Jaku alleged to himself, then he went back to thinking about Kimiko…

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Rika's eyes widened.

"Well?"

"T-this…" She stammered.

"Yes?"

"It's fantastic! What is in this? It's so delicious, Clay!"

"Old family recipe," He told her, with a tip of his hat, "I'd be happy to tell you, once I get permission from Pa, that is. If I don't, I might disgrace the whole family."

Rika chuckled. "Well, I'll just be satisfied eating it, then." She took another bite. "Are you and your dad close?"

"Aw yeah, very much. He taught me everything I know." He smiled as he reminisced. "What about your dad?"

"Same thing. He taught me how to be tough, and when we found out that I was to be the Xiaolin Dragon of Night, he sent me right off to train with Master Sir Bartholomew." She frowned. "He wrote to me in his letters and said it was hard for him that I wasn't around, because my mom passed away a year before I started training. I guess he was feeling lonely."

"Dang, I'm sorry, little darlin'. I had no idea."

She smiled. "It's okay. I didn't know her that well. I just never told anyone that, but I'm glad I told you, Clay."

The cowboy did not respond. He just sat there, staring at her.

"Um…Is it okay that I share stuff like that with you? Sorry, perhaps I have taken advantage of your kindness towards me."

"No! It's not that!" He started fixing his hat. "I, I, uh… Sorry, I'm just real glad you feel so comfortable 'round me, that's all."

She smiled. "I don't normally talk to people like this, obviously. So you'll have to be my guinea pig: I'll chat with you a lot, so I can be more social with others as well. Is that okay?"

Clay chuckled. "Gee, I've never been called a guinea pig before… Maybe a pig, but certainly not the guinea kind."

Rika paused. "What do you mean by that?"

"It's just, at school, kids would tease me 'bout my weight, that's all." Clay sounded miserable as he spoke.

Rika observed his solid pectorals and broad biceps. "You don't look like somebody who has a weight problem." She pointed out.

"Maybe not as much no more, I guess all the fat actually went to some of my muscles." He snickered as he showed off his guns.

"Indeed, the children from your childhood would be jealous of you now, as they wave about their flappy arms. I'm almost jealous myself."

Clay laughed. "What you got to be jealous for? You're beautifu-"

He paused, and his face turned red. Rika stared at him, slightly jarred.

"Um, I mean, well, yeah, you're pretty, but s-sorry that was so straight forward!" He was practically rocking his hat like a boat while he tried to 'fix' it.

"Thank you. I appreciate your analysis, Clay." She finished up her sandwich. "This was great. You should make dinner for everyone sometime."

"Sure thing, only if you're ready to help me in the kitchen?"

"It's a date-"

Rika paused, and her face turned red. Clay stared at her, slightly jarred.

"Um, I-I mean DEAL! I-it's a deal… sorry, I m-mixed my words. Well, see yeah!" She bolted out of the kitchen, Toki following behind her.

Clay shrugged his shoulders and started cleaning up his snack mess, then once he was finished, he headed towards the training grounds with a smile on his face.

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"Ooooohhhh, what a most inspiring tale!" Omi cheered. "Read more! Read more!"

"Alright, little one." Jose chuckled. "You have much spirit. You must have lived your life out with integrity and wit."

"My friends think so." He admitted. Just then Raimundo walked passed their little reading session.

"Ah, Raimundo, care to cleanse some thoughts with a few versus from the Book?"

"Uh, no thanks Jose, I gotta take care of a few things." He winked at Omi, who replied with a wink back. He had already told Omi, Clay, Rika and Kimiko to keep an eye out for the creature or anything suspicious, now he was looking for Jaku to tell him the same thing.

"Oh, Raimundo, you must hear these tales of valor and rejuvenating spirits!" Omi exclaimed.

"Nah, dude, I've heard them before, but thanks." Raimundo was partly pleased that Jose was bringing such prosperity, especially towards liitle Omi. Perhaps there was a verse he could use to calm Omi's ego…

"Oh, Raimundo!"

"Jaku, there you are, listen dude-"

"Is Kimiko alright?"

"H-huh?"

"Well, I was gonna ask Rika, but I can't find her. Kimiko is acting weird though, don't you think?"

Raimundo didn't think so. In fact, after there little 'talk' that night, Kimiko was talking more and more to him. He smirked as he thought about this.

"Nah, I think she's never been happier, Jaku." Then it hit him: Why was he asking this? "Did something happen?"

"Well, I've just been trying to hang out with her, and she seems sort of shallow towards me when I bring anything like that up."

….Well, at least she was being loyal to Rai. Raimundo realized this must have been happening because Kimiko didn't want to upset him by hanging around Jaku like she used to so much. Jaku was his friend, though, so he couldn't just leave him confused and in the dust…

He placed his hand on Jaku's shoulder. "Jaku, listen, I think I should tell you…"

"OH RAIMUNDO!" Dojo squealed from the kitchen. "I can see you in the hallway you silly boy! Be a lad and help a dragon cook dinner, eh?"

Raimundo sighed in aggravation. "Why are YOU making dinner anyway? Do you even know how to cook?"

"Oh, I'm sure it's no harder than breathing fire!"

Rai rolled his eyes. "I gotta go, see yeah." He left Jaku to his thoughts once more. Now it was going to bug him. What was Raimundo going to tell him about Kimiko? He walked out onto the porch, deciding if he should go train or not, when a pair of red eyes paralyzed him and swept him away.

...

...

"Kimikoooooo…."

Kimiko hid her game. "Hey, Rai!"

He poked his head out from the doorway of the living room. "Kimiko, you don't look like you're doing anything important." He waltzed in and sat on the couch next to her. "Why don't you come with me and help with the food?"

"No thanks, I'd rather do something else."

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "Well, I'm sure we could find something to do then…"

"Kimiko, Raimundo?"

Rika walked in, holding Toki.

Raimundo pushed himself back into a straight sitting position.

"Hey Rika, what's up?"

"I'm looking for Clay and Jaku, but I can't find either one of them. Have you seen them?"

"Clay is training, I think, and I just saw Jaku. He should be around here, somewhere."

Just as he spoke, Jose strolled by, murmuring a prayer. Rika speculated him for a moment, and her glare caught his attention.

"Would you like to pray, sister Rika? It'll be good to sooth the soul?"

"Um, no thanks, father. Hey, have you seen any of the other monks?"

"You mean Jaku and Clay? I haven't."

"Damn." Her eyes widened. "Oh, I-I'm sorry for cursing!"

Jose smiled. "A few words of anger do not penetrate and devour the soul; it is indulging and living in those words that keeps the soul trapped. You have done well most of your life, now you must embrace that good virtue completely, and seek the lord."

Rika chuckled. "Not to offend you, but I grew up learning Buddhism."

Jose grimaced. "I see. Then by all means, continue indulging your soul." He bowed his head before leaving.

"Dang, he was totally bagging on your religion, Rika!" Kimiko giggled.

"Huh, some pastor." Rika grumbled. "Well anyway, I gotta at least find one of them; I wonder where the hell they are?"

...

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Clay was training with his Big Bang Meteor rang against Omi's Shimo Staff.

"You have gotten much faster, Clay." Omi enlightened between breaths.

"Thanks, little partner."

"I must admit, you are quite focused these days. What had made you so determined to get stronger faster?"

"Oh, you know, with Rika and Jaku here, I figured it was tme to get serious with more lives on the line."

"Oh, indeed I agree, especially with Rika's life on the line! As you would say."

"W-what?"

Omi chuckled. "I am merely yanking your ropes, cowboy!" Omi patted him on the back.

"I-It's not just for her, little buddy! Besides, what about you and Delilah?"

"What about her? If she is determined to be a warrior, she can handle things herself!"

"I don't think you get the idea of chivalry, bud."

"Any what, I am off to retrieve nourishment for the body and mind. Continue your training if you must, Clay." Omi bowed to him before heading into the temple.

Clay was about to continue his work, when he spotted something on the side of the temple, shining.

"Huh?" He stalked over to it and picked it up. It was Father Jose's Bible, and the golden cross on top of it. "Dang, he shouldn't be leavin' this lying around! I'll go bring it to him." A load of cards flew out of the Bible pages and spilled onto the ground. "Uh-oh, oops!" He got on his knees and began picking up the papers, and in doing so he couldn't help but notice what images were on them. The cards were pictures. Clay's eyes widened in horror.

"No way! T-this is…" His hand began shaking with the picture in his hand. "B…but, WHY?"

...

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Jaku awakened quickly. He remembered what had happened before he was knocked out and was determined to figure out his current situation. His hands were tied behind his back, and he was lying in a patch of grass somewhere of unfamiliarity, where all was quiet and the sun was beaming warmly on his face.

"We are not far from your temple." An angelic voice was speaking to him. His eyes wandered in bewilderment, until they caught the figure of a beautiful maiden, with long white hair and wearing tattered black clothes. Her angel wings were down, her skin was glowing and her eyes were blind folded.

"Um, w-what is this? Who are you?"

"I am sorry, but I had to drag you out here, away from the temple, where nobody could see us."

Despite the fact that she was an angel, Jaku was feeling quite uncomfortable. "What do you want with me?"

"You're going to find this hard to believe, boy, but I'm not what you think I am. You're new guests aren't what you think they are, either."

"No offense, but if you're an angel and all, shouldn't you know my name?"

"I am not an angel. I have disguised myself, so that you would not be frightened of me so that I could talk to you. Now, listen: the pastor and the nun have been hunting that vampire for many years now. They truly believe that it is pure evil and will not stop until they have killed it."

"I know that already, but what do you mean they only 'believe' it is evil? Are you saying that it isn't?"

"Vampires must drink blood. It is a requirement, like water is to humans. That does not make them evil, but the actions they take to require that blood, can make them evil. Jose and Mary grew up together, possessed by jealousy to all those around them. They are fixated on becoming the best, and the only to do that, they believe, is by killing me."

"Y-you?"

Day turned back into night, and the angel was unveiled suddenly into the hideous monster that attacked him earlier. It's wide, red eyes were gazing back down into his own, and the monster shrieked. Jaku winced at the abrupt change, and attempted to scramble onto his feet, but the vampire's claw gripped his neck and she leaned in close. She did not hesitate to sink her teeth into the side of his neck.

Jaku screamed as his body felt like it was on fire from her sting. He tried struggling free, but she held him down.

The night transformed back into day, and the angel reappeared. She lifted Jaku up.

"Forgive me," She began, "that was all I could do to keep talking to you. In my true form, it is impossible to speak human, just as difficult as it would be for a cat or dog to do so."

Jaku was breathing heavily, as he reached for his neck; the bite was completely gone, and he realized also that his hands were free.

"What did you just do to me?" He demanded.

"I brought you back into this illusion realm, so that we may talk. I had touched your face earlier today, on the roof; you remember? That was enough to get you hypnotized, as you are now. When you found out that I was the vampire just now, though, you broke the illusion in realization. To make a stronger illusion, my contact with you had to be deeper, so I bit you. Don't worry, it's not poisonous."

"W-well, why me? W-what do you want to talk about, or are you just going to monologue before you kill me?"

"I am not the threat, those horrible clergy are."

"The pastor and nun? B-but why, that doesn't make any sense…" Jaku pondered.

"As I said, they have been hunting me for years, and it has driven them insane. They won't tolerate failing, because they want to be hailed as the best vampire hunters." The angel's brows furrowed. "They killed my father, and my friends… And then when they couldn't kill me, they assumed they were doing their job wrong, so they made sure they left no trace of my presence wherever I went."

"What does that mean?"

"They 'purified' everything; everyone who ever laid eyes on me, or who I had contact with…They claimed to be cursed, and as a way to cleanse their souls, they would slaughter all of them."

Jaku's eyes widened. He remember them mentioning something about that straight to their faces.

You all have been cursed….

You have lived a good life…

Pure faces always bring joy to me. It saddens me, however, when they are cursed….

It's a shame you're pure soul has been cursed….

"What, WHY? We have to get back to the temple!"

"Indeed. They went to your temple because you are monks, and assumed that they would not fulfill their job by killing only a few of your assembly at the church; your connections at your temple would also have to be, 'purified'."

"Damn, we took them right to our home! We have to go warn the others, right now!"

...

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Clay turned around to see the nun standing there. She whacked the picture out of his hand with her whip, leaving a wide slash in Clay's arm.

"Yow!" He jumped away from the nun and all the scattered pictures. "M-Maria? What's going on?"

"Oh dear," She sang, "I'm afraid preparations will have to start early, now." She tilted her head to the side. "We've been at this temple for hours. There are no more monks coming to this temple, are they, Clay?"

"N-no. We're the only ones who stay here, but why..?"

She whipped him again, this time, across his shoulder to his back. Clay yelled again.

"Stop it! You're crazy, lady!"

"I must cleanse you, before sending you to be judged by the lord!" She cried. Her whips came at him constantly, until he caught one of her strikes. He pulled her towards him, and tied her up with his rope. "No! you're making a mistake! You shant deny what must be done in the lord's name!"

"Look sister, I believe in God, but I don't think there's anything in the Bible that specifies killing as a duty of the believer!"

"You must! You have been cursed!"

Clay looked down at the graphic pictures again. There were pictures of people in all kinds of positions, stabbed and shot, and every one of the pictures was painted red with all the blood splatter.

"Yeah, okay lady, whatever you say. I'm turning you in, right now!"

BLAM.

The bullet grazed Clay's cheek, and blood trickled down to his handkerchief. He spun around onto his knees, facing the one with the gun.

"Father Jose, why are you doing this?"

"Clay Baily. You must be purified. You and your friends both have stumbled upon a great evil, and its remnants has cursed all of you." He held his pistol up again. "You must all be saved!"

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Clay jumped away from Maria, and hopped behind the temple wall before he could be shot.

"Clay! What's going on out here?" Clay turned around to see Kimiko, Raimundo and Omi dash out from the front of the temple.

"J-Jose and Maria are crazy! They're trying to kill us, guys!"

"What? A pastor and a nun are trying to kill US? Come on Clay, that's stupid." Rai retorted.

"IT'S TRUE! They think killing us will 'purify' our souls or some weird shit like that! We gotta run, that pastor got a dag' gone pistol!"

BLAM! BLAM! Maria slide out from the side of the temple, and cracked her whip at the monks.

"YAH! What's your problem, sister?" Raimundo cranked out his blade, and the other monks joined in and also prepared their Wudai weapons.

"Arrow Sparrow!" The nun ducked and spun around, dodging Kimiko's flames.

"Quit trying to resist!" she yelled. Jose swung out from behind her, holding the pistol.

"Nobody move, please." His gun cocked. The monks stood still. Regardless that they had magical weapons, they didn't make them bullet proof. "I'm sorry, this must be all so unexpected for you children." The nun giggled at his words and she wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging on him like a monkey, then he wrapped one arm around her waist, keeping her up against his side.

"You have been possessed by the demon's presence," Maria finished. "You must be judged only by the master."

"Will you repent, before we ratify your souls?" Jose asked.

"SPEAR OF HENG-O!" An electrical barrier was placed around the clergy.

"Good work, Rika!" Rai applauded.

"I… Don't, know, how much longer, I can, keep it up!" She warned them. Toki jumped beside her and glared at the glowing sphere in awe. "What should we, do with them?"

"We should turn these freaks into the police!" Clay walked over with the pictures he found in the Bible.

"Holy shit!" Kimiko turned away from the gory pictures right away, covering her mouth and holding her stomach.

"Are these, real? My God, I can't believe you two did all of this…" Rai managed to look up from the pictures. "They're completely psycho! Kimiko, I need you to call-"

"Yes, hello? 911? Yeah, I need the cops to come and arrest some murderers at our temple…."

"Heh, she's already got it taken care of." Rai mumbled to himself.

"If they try anything," Omi's Shimo Staff morphed into a machine gun, "I will terminate them!" The monks gave blank stares to the staff. "What?" Omi reflected their glares. "Jaku made me watch The Terminator. I thought this weapon would be most suitable in this situation."

"Speakin' of which, where is the partner?"

"Guys!" Jaku came descending from the sky, being held by the vampire. "It's Maria and Jose! They're the real villains here!"

"Yeah, you're a little late, dude." Raimundo pointed at the trapped nun and pastor in the barrier.

"Oh… Well, the vampire isn't bad!"

Kimiko speculated the dry blood on Jaku's neck. "Or maybe it brainwashed you! You've been bitten!"

"Huh? Oh, this? Look, it's a long story, but anyway we gotta do something about them! They've been slaughtering folks involved with her!"

"Yeah, we know that already too." Rai mumbled.

"Oh, is that so?" Jaku pondered this. "Well. Why'd you capture ME to tell me all that stuff if they were just gonna find out, anyway?"

To respond, the vampire started screeching as she spoke, and the other monks covered their ears.

"Jaku! M-make her stop! I can't concentrate!" Rika wailed.

"Wait, Vespa! You can't speak; they're not in your illusion, so they can't understand you." Jaku enlightened. The vampire, Vespa, silenced herself.

"Dear Lord! They are conspiring with the demon!" Maria shrieked.

"Oh, SHUT UP!" Raimundo growled. "The police are on their way, so you freaks can hoot and holler about "doing the Lord's work" behind bars!"

Kimiko smirked. "Very well put, Rai."

"No… NO!" Jose screamed, he was holding his golden cross. "We can't be flawed! We must try to be perfect, like the Lord! No, no, no, NO!"

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Jaku thought aloud.

Jose put the golden cross to the barrier and began murmuring. Rika felt an uneasy pressure flowing back towards her spear, and she was losing focus.

"No! He's breaking my shield!"

Jose's cross began to glow, and suddenly the barrier was lifted.

"GO TO THE DEPTHS OF HELL WHERE YOU BELONG, WITCH!" He pointed his pistol up at Rika…

BLAM.

Clay's body hit the floor.

Before anyone knew what was going on, the cross in Jose's hand began burning him. He dropped it in pain, and Maria attempted strike again with her whip.

"NO!" Omi let the machine gun fire.

The sound of the blazing bullets was crushing to the ears. Both of them screaming. The sound of every bullet smacking through their flesh. The blood.

Omi kept his face staid as the gun ran out of bullets. When it processed through his mind that they were finally gone, he raced to his comrade's side.

"Give him some air!" Rai ordered. Clay was face up, lying on the ground.

"Clay? CLAY!" His stomach was bleeding everywhere. He had stepped in front of Rika, just before Jose's bullet could reach her. "Clay, it's okay! You're gonna be okay!"

"R…Rika," He smiled, "I-I'm s-sorry…"

"No… no no no! It's not your fault. Y-you saved me…"

"A-and I'd do it again…" He winced at the pain.

"J-Jaku! Y-you gotta help him!" She ordered.

"I-I can't! The bullet is still in him!"

She looked back down at Clay. "It's okay, Clay…" Her eyes were watering. No… she hadn't cried since…

"I-I'm glad you're all okay." He whispered. "I guess not being quick enough finally got to me," he wheezed.

"Clay, the police are on their way… just hold on a little longer!" Kimiko cried.

"Come on Cowboy, you've dealt with worse… right?" Rai inclined.

Clay chuckled. "'Never thought I'd get shot at by a crazy preacher. That ain't something you see everyday." His eyelids were getting heavier. He squeezed onto the pain in his stomach, and onto the gentle hand he was holding. "R-Rika…"

"Yes, Clay?" She couldn't help it now. The tears were streaming.

"I h-have to tell you," he tried keeping them open, "That I… I… I l…" His eyelids shut.

"CLAYYYY!"

…..

The cops and ambulance showed up, 10 minutes after Kimiko had made the call, and they got to work on Clay. He wasn't breathing, he had no heartbeat, when they rushed him to the nearest hospital.

The monks waited anxiously in a white room at the hospital. Nobody spoke.

Raimundo sat back down, handing Kimiko a Styrofoam cup filled with water. Omi had his head down where he sat across form them, and Rika kept her knees up to her chest and buried her head in them. They had been sitting in the waiting room for hours, it seemed.

"You guys want any water?"

Omi shook his head, and Rika did nothing.

Rai sighed as he looked up at the light on the ceiling. He started counting the tiles around the light, then he decided to himself that was pointless, and try to figure out what he could to make everyone less distraught, but nothing came to mind.

Because there was nothing he could do.

"Dammit! Where is Jaku?"

"H-he went to the bathroom." Kimiko informed him.

"Yeah, like half an hour ago. Seriously, where is he right now?"

Jaku was on the roof of the hospital. The sky was shading to brighter tone as he spoke to Vespa.

"I am sorry about your friend." Vespa alleged.

"Hey, he's not dead yet." Jaku retorted. He was just as shaken up as the other monks, and he wanted to be in the waiting room with them, but Vespa insisted that he speak with her before she left.

"Yes, that's true." She agreed. "I must say, you monks are brave. If you had not been, you might have all ended up like the other victims."

"Well, you did help us a little," He pointed out, "B-but, why did you choose me of all people to warn?"

She smirked. "Honestly, I liked the way your blood smelled." She admitted. "I knew if I was going to warn somebody and have to drink their blood, I wanted it to be yours."

"Oh, um, thanks, I guess?"

She chuckled. "Well, I couldn't just warn all of you while those freaks were there, so I chose you to speak with privately."

Jaku paused. "There are, a lot of questions I want to ask you," he admitted, "I mean, seeing you so angelic, even if it's just an illusion, makes me doubt you're a blood-sucking vampire or something."

Vespa smiled. "The books have it all wrong, especially the story about that Edward Cullen character."

Jaku grimaced. "I agree."

"Well, I hate it. Humans are so imaginative, yet they can't get a single story about vampires right."

Jaku pondered this. "D-do you want me to tell your story, Vespa?"

She chuckled. "You mean to the world? No. You should probably let people keep having their fantasies." She sat on the edge of the roof with her feet dangling over.

"I can't believe those people were so obsessed with God, they thought that they were doing something good by killing all those people."

"It was not their obsession for Him that drove them mad, it was me. They were always siblings crazy in the head, but I was their muse, their excuse, to let their insanity free." She looked down at her hand. "I am frightened of the holy powers, because they do exist. I know they exist, because I have been severely pained by its power, but I have also seen it actually bring good towards people. If anything, I am a curse brought to this world. I should have died a long time ago, but I didn't want to leave this world, with those sacrilegious freaks running around still." She looked down at Jaku. "Don't let their influence make you think little on those who have the same beliefs. You should not judge people based on others actions, anyway. Do you understand, Jaku?"

Jaku stared back up at her. He could not see her eyes (because of the blindfold), but he felt like she was looking into all of his soul, his guilt, his life. "Of course I do. Thanks for the advice; I never thought I'd be getting any from a vamp. Hey, I got another question for you…"

"Anything."

"You seem to be frightened of holy powers, but what about the sun? When you were running from Jose and Maria the first time we met you, you were in the sun. Are you not allergic to it?"

"I am. Very." Vespa rolled back her sleeve, revealing red cracks going from her arm to the rest of her body. "Once infected by the sun's rays, the process of death is slow. It goes through the blood stream, slowly." She looked up at the rising sun. "I am dying. This is the last sunrise I will see."

Jaku's eyes widened.

"I just wanted to tell somebody my story, before I finally left." She continued. "Now, I have a question for you, Jaku."

"W-what is it?"

"Do you think, something like me, will go to a good place when I go?"

Damn. Why did he have to ask her such a serious question?

"Y-yes."

She smiled. "You don't sound very confident." She realized. "Maybe you should answer that question for yourself, before you have to face it." She spread her wings out. "Goodbye, Jaku. I'm glad I got to speak with you. You seem like a very friendly person. The woman who spends her life with you will be a lucky one."

Jaku's cheeks flushed. He watched in reverence as the angel jumped off the roof and took off. She flew up into the sun, until Jaku couldn't see her anymore.

"Goodbye, Vespa."

...

pppppppppppppppppppppppppppp

...

The man in the white coat paced easily into the waiting room.

"Are you the ones here for Clay Baily?"

The monks rushed the doctor.

"What's going on doc? Is he okay?"

The doctor speculated the children.

"He's doing quite well from the surgery. He lost a lot of blood, but the bullet didn't hit a vital spot. He's asleep, but he should be able to go home in a few days."

A sigh of relief escaped the monks.

"Thank goodness!" Kimiko wailed.

"Phew, he almost got me." Rai chuckled.

"He is… okay? T-thank goodness." Omi sighed.

"You don't sound very enthusiastic, Omi." Kimiko recognized.

"It's just, Clay would not have been injured if I hadn't hesitated to shoot them once Rika's barrier had lifted. I… I just could not bring myself to kill human lives, until they shot him."

"It's nobody's fault, Omi." Rai told him. "We were all tricked by them, so you can't put all the blame on you. Besides, Clay is fine."

"Guys!" Jaku raced towards them. "Sorry, I had to say goodbye to Vespa, but I heard the good news!"

"You kids should head home and get some rest yourselves. You can visit him tomorrow. I'm sure he'll be awake by then." The monks took the doctor's advice, and headed back to the temple. When they got there, Master Monk Guan was spraying the concrete by the temple with a hose. No one pointed out what he was doing, because they knew he was cleaning off the blood left from the bodies of the priest and nun. With relief, they told Fung, that Clay was going to be okay, and they took it as a sign to rest from this weird day.

"Mew…" Rika got out of the shower, and put her PJ's on. When she shut the lights off to her room, she cuddled under her blanket and started crying.

"I-It's my fault," She thought aloud. Toki scratched at the blanket to let her in, and she let him in and held him close. "I, I'm so weak. If I were stronger, I could have protected Clay, but I couldn't do anything! I've never felt so helpless…"

"Mew." Toki started to purr.

"I, have to get stronger, Toki. Somehow…" Eventually, Rika fell asleep, with the cat in her arms, and her heart heavy.

...

ppppppp

...

Now, the night the monks retrieved Kimiko's soul from Arko's desert palace, meanwhile, Chase and Wuya had developed a plan at his Lair:

"You're crazy!" Wuya screamed. "That old fool Fung will spot you in an instant!"

Chase smirked. "I will be discrete." He told her. "Usually, when I come up with spy missions such as this, I would either use my all seeing eye, or have others go in for me. However, I need the Sapphire Dragon, and I would be most suitable to infiltrate their temple and steal it."

"Why don't we just barge in there with your jungle cats, then? If the Sapphire Dragon is all you need…"

"No! The monks cannot know that I am the one who will take the Sapphire Dragon. I must go in quietly, in disguise, a form they would not suspect me, Chase Young, to humbly transform myself into."

"Well, this plan just isn't your style to begin with." Wuya noted. "It could take some time before you will actually be able to infiltrate their vault unsuspected; you know that, don't you?"

"Of course." His grin widened. "This will not only help me get the Wu, but I will also be able to keep an eye on the monks… One in particular, who is essential to my plan."

Wuya flinched. "Oh great, you're not STILL trying to get Omi to join the Heylin side, are you?"

"Omi was, and still is, the Chosen One to have joined the Heylin side. However, that does not mean we cannot acquire another… somebody who's presence is necessary to be by my side, whether it be for a short time, or for eternity. Anyway, we will need the monk and the Sapphire Dragon for this plan to work."

Wuya gave a blank stare. He had been talking about this "plan" ever since they had found out about Bartholomew's students joining the monks, but he hadn't told her a thing about it yet. This made Wuya a very uneasy witch.

"I will try to return as soon as this mission requires me to. Until then, try to keep the lair clean. And feed my jungle cats!"

"Yeah, yeah, your pets will be taken care of." She mumbled.

"Farewell, then." Chase held up the Wu that would help him transform. "Moby-Morpher!" The light blinded Wuya, and when she was able to look back at Chase, instead, there he was…

A black cat, with golden eyes, whipped his tail about. "Mew!"

Chase Young walked around on all fours, in his new form, for a moment, then he vanished in a green fire, no doubt transporting himself to the Xiaolin monk's temple, where his mission could begin.

TO BE CONTINUED.

Sorry it's so long, but I wanted the arc involving the crazy clergy to be one episode. I'm also apologizing right now if talking about religions offended anyone. When I made Jose and Maria, they were obviously related to either a Catholic or Christian belief system. I am a Christian, so I wasn't bashing the religion, obviously, I just wanted to create a storyline that would sort of stray from the current problems, but also be interesting. Next chapter will be back on track, though! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and as ALWAYS, reviews are welcomed. Thanks guys!

You Rock XD