A Modern Red Riding Hood

Disclaimer: I don't own Xiaolin Showdown.

Chapter 9: Confrontation

(Following day at 2 a.m. at Rex Hospital)

Jack sat in the waiting room as Kimiko's parent's sat inside with their daughter. They had thanked him for getting her there in time and staying until they arrived and even staying after the surgery was completed.

They say she's in a coma, Jack recalled, she'll live, but it looks bad, he thought, if I didn't have membership to this exclusive hospital she'd be dead or mentally retarded by now.

"Jack," Omi said softly.

Jack jumped.

"Calm down Jack," another voice said.

Jack froze.

Katnappe, Jack thought.

"Well Jack," Ashley said, "who knew the son of the great Spicer family was a criminal genius and gothic hero all in one?"

Jack looked at her untrustingly.

"Ashley wanted to come," Omi said, "I felt it was best she came before…"

"Well, well," Rai said walking forward, "if it isn't I love you one second and don't love you the next," he said.

Ashley's face darkened.

"Rai," Jack said, "back off," he said firmly.

All three were surprised.

"This is for Kimiko," Jack said seriously, "we don't have time for this."

Rai looked at his feet ashamed of his behaviour.

"Where's Clay?" Omi asked curiously.

"Clay convinced Master Fung to let me come here," Rai revealed, "by staying behind."

"But he and Kimiko are best friends," Ashley spoke up, "why would he stay behind?"

Rai looked away.

Guess I'll just have to be out of the loop then, Ashley concluded.

"I'd rather not talk about it," Rai said softly, "would it be okay if Omi and I saw Kimiko?" he asked.

"Her family's in there," Jack revealed.

Omi blanched.

"I think it's best that you guys go after they've left," Jack suggested, "or day break," he added.

"I'll go after they're gone," Omi said softly and sat on the opposite side.

Everyone inwardly thought that was a good idea.

By 5 a.m. Omi was hiding because Kimiko's mother was sitting in the waiting room. All that was known to the Tohomiko's was that Kimiko and another student got into a fight and she was accidentally kicked into a column as a result. Mr. Tohomiko had already contacted his lawyers and sent them to speak to Master Fung. However, they've only been allowed to speak to Master Fung's spiritual counsel. Spiritual Counsel that was in actuality the monks of the temple.

In the hospital room Mr. Tohomiko, Rai, and Ashley sat in the room watching Kimiko.

Kimiko was attached to several machines. Her head was bandaged covering most of her hair. Her face was slightly bruised and puffy, and several tubes were sticking out her arms that lay still by her side. A floral bed sheet went up to her chest since Jack suggested that instead of the standard blue hospital sheet. Her condition was mostly stable. But her brain activity while it pointed to very good brain functioning wasn't very positive in terms of her waking up from this. In fact, there was a thirty-nine percent chance she'd never wake up. Since her chances of waking up was only forty percent, that wasn't very good.

"If I catch the ruffian who did this," Mr. Tohomiko said darkly, "I'd…" he said with fists clenched, "I'd show him real suffering," he concluded.

Rai swallowed the urge to defend Omi. He couldn't make his big mouth reveal the identity of Kimiko's 'attacker'.

"Kimiko," Rai said softly taking her hand, "I'm so sorry," he said his voice breaking, "if I could back I'd…" he started, "I'd do everything differently," he declared, "me, you, Clay, Omi," he said, "we'd all be friends and living at the temple happily," he said and rested his head on the bed as he cried.

Ashley looked on sadly. She didn't know what to say.

"Just say what's in your heart," Mr. Tohomiko said softly.

Ashley nearly jumped.

"Sorry," Mr. Tohomiko said with a sad laugh.

"That's okay," Ashley said, "Kimiko, she's a very nice girl," she told Mr. Tohomiko.

"My sweet darling," Mr. Tohomiko said sadly, "I just dropped you off at some far of…place and abandoned you," he said hanging down his head.

Ashley felt completely torn.

What can I do? Ashley thought.

Ashley gently took Mr. Tohomiko's hand.

"She wouldn't want you to be so sad," Ashley said comfortingly, "you love her, she knows that."

"I thought that…temple would improve her attitude," Mr. Tohomiko said, "but look…" he said but his voice broke.

Ashley gently rubbed his hand. Having no idea what else to do.

----

(9 a.m. at Chase's Residence)

There was a loud knock at Chase's hideout.

"Way I said I'm not taking you back!" Chase shouted.

But the knocking continued.

Chase took his non-human form.

I'm going to give that cheating bitch a run for her money, Chase decided ready to fight.

But when he opened the door he saw someone unexpected.

"Omi?"

Chapter Completed