As Kimiko stared at the inscription beneath the statue, not believing what she was reading. Raimundo Pedrosa … gave his life … rest in peace …
Omi and Clay stood behind Kimiko, staring almost as blankly as she was.
"When … when did this happen?" Asked Kimiko.
"Almost four years ago," Said Jermaine, "Don't you remember?"
"Obviously not!" Said Kimiko, standing up angrily.
"Raimundo gave his life fighting Chase Young," Said Master Fung.
"I can read!" Snapped Kimiko.
She took a breath and tried to speak calmly, but everyone could hear the underlying anger.
"How did it happen?" She said slowly and quietly.
"He was fighting Chase Young, but they were fighting near unstable area near a canyon." Said Jermaine, "As they fought the ground became more and more unstable. You, Omi and Clay tried to call them back, but they carried on fighting. Raimundo wasn't going to forgive him for all the suffering he had caused everyone. They fought for days, but everyday it became more and more dangerous. It was one day when they were right near the edge, the cliff collapsed. Raimundo grabbed onto the ledge, but Chase grabbed onto his ankles. They were both so weak they couldn't pull themselves to safety. Raimundo knew that chase wouldn't let go and so long as he held on, Chase would escape death. And so …"
"He let go …" Whispered Omi and they looked at him, "That is what happened, correct?"
"It was the only way to kill Chase," Said Jermaine, "By the time you guys got down to the bottom of the canyon, they were both already dead." He turned to Kimiko, "You locked yourself away for six months. Eighteen years old and already a widow. In the mean time, Wuya built her own empire and started to take over the world."
"Wuya … wait, widow?" Asked Kimiko in confusion.
"Yeah, you and Raimundo got married when you were seventeen." Said Jermaine, staring at her in disbelief, "Are you guys suffering from amnesia?"
"Something like that," Said Clay.
"This is all wrong!" Cried Kimiko, "This isn't what he wanted! This wasn't what was supposed to happen!"
"What are you talking about?" Asked Dojo.
Kimiko looked to Omi and Clay and neither of them moved. They were unsure of what to do as well. Should they tell them? Or should they just try and respect what Raimundo did for them by staying in the time stream? One look made up their minds.
"We've got some explaining to do," Said Kimiko, "It might be confusing, but it'll explain our behaviour."
After explaining their story, Master Fung and Jermaine exchanged glances before looking back at them.
"Are you certain?" Asked Master Fung.
"Yes we're certain!" Said Kimiko, pulling out her eye patch, "I just pulled this thing off!"
"We come from a time where Raimundo is still alive!" Said Clay.
"And Chase Young is the survivor, not Wuya!" Said Omi.
"Master Fung?" Asked Jermaine.
"I believe them," Said Master Fung, "the question is, what are we going to do?"
"How do you mean?" Asked Kimiko.
"We can either allow you to return to the past and stop Raimundo from stopping himself from falling through time, or you can decide if this time if better or not then decide to leave the time this way or not." Explained Master Fung.
"That … sort of makes sense." Said Omi.
"So, is your time better than ours?" Asked Jermaine.
Kimiko thought for a moment. Wuya could be more easily defeated that Chase Young, but Raimundo was dead. They were above ground, but Raimundo was dead. Chase Young would be very difficult to defeat, but Raimundo would be there to help them. Raimundo, Raimundo, Raimundo! That was the only thing that this world needed! However, the idea of going through life, not being with Raimundo … it wasn't worth thinking about.
"This world is easier than our own … but Raimundo …" Said Clay.
"This isn't right." Said Kimiko, "At least in the other time, we were all together!"
"So, you would prefer to go back?" Asked Master Fung.
"At least if we go back, we can defeat Chase Young alongside all of our friends!" Said Omi.
"We don't want to stay in a world where we're always wondering if we made the right decision." Said Clay, "At least if we go back we'll have each other to keep our minds off of it."
Master Fung opened his mouth to speak, but a loud crash interrupted him as the back wall exploded. Rubble flew through the air, smashing into people. Standing in the previously blasted gap, was Wuya's familiar outline.
"Tut tut dragons," sighed Wuya, "you've let your guard down. Lasso Boa-boa!"
The lasso flew out and wrapped itself around the sands of time.
"No!" Called Kimiko, making a dive for them, but they were snatched out of her reach.
"Sorry Kimiko," Sighed Wuya, "but I'm afraid you're not going to get me this time!"
Wuya ran and Kimiko struggled to her feet. She tried to move, but a piece of the rubble which was burying her friends had hit her head and as she rose a hand to her skull and brought it back, she saw a red substance. She staggered sideways and collapsed on the ground. The last thing she saw, was Raimundo's smiling face …
When she woke up, her head was pounding. Around her the monks were clearing up the rubble. Omi and Clay were leaning over her.
"Kimiko?" Asked Clay.
"The sands of time?" she murmured.
"Wuya got them," Said Clay, "she was long gone by the time any of us came round."
Kimiko sat up and put a hand to her throbbing skull. She felt a bandage, stopping it from bleeding. Jermaine handed her an ice pack. She smiled her thanks and put it to her head.
"You were lucky," He said.
"I noticed," Said Kimiko, glancing around. Jermaine's arm was in a cast, a couple of the monks were still half buried, Dojo was covered in bandages, supporting his crooked form, Omi had a bandage of his arm and One of the monks was supporting a broken leg.
"Well, I'd better lend a hand," Said Kimiko, trying to get to her feet and staggering over.
"You've got a concussion!" Said Clay, stopping her from falling, "you've gotta rest."
"We've got to get Wuya!" Said Kimiko, "We need to sands of time!"
"And we'll get them!" said Clay, "But until further notice, you've got to let yourself recover!"
Kimiko sat back down and sighed.
"I just feel so useless!" She said quietly.
"So do I," Said Jermaine, "So that makes two of us."
Jermaine helped Kimiko out to the courtyard with his good arm.
"So we're going to have to get back to the past." Said Jermaine, "Or you are."
"It's for the best." Said Kimiko.
She sighed and sat on the grass.
"What happened to Jack and Ashley?" Asked Kimiko.
"Jack Spicer?" Asked Jermaine, "Spying on Wuya for us."
"And Ashley?" Asked Kimiko.
"Who's Ashley?" asked Jermaine.
"Katnappe!" Said Kimiko.
"She's on Wuya's side." Said Jermaine.
"Oh, right …" Said Kimiko.
"Why?" Asked Jermaine.
"Well she was a spy with Jack in our time." Said Kimiko, "They both got caught though. Jack was rescued but she was left there. She met you in the jail and you broke out together. She's on our side."
"Well in this time she's a mega bitch," Said Jermaine.
"In our time, I think you have a bit of a thing for her," Laughed Kimiko.
"Take it back!" Said Jermaine.
"I'm being serious!" said Kimiko, "She's with Jack, but after she rescued you, you two were pretty close. Jack's totally out of it half the time anyway. He can see things that are coming ahead of time though …"
Kimiko stopped. Raimundo had seen Jack in his dream. He thought Jack was telling him to use the Sands of Time, but what if he had been warning him not to? What if Raimundo got the meaning all wrong? What if Jack knew this was going to happen and he tried to tell him, but Raimundo misunderstood?
"Kim?" Asked Jermaine, "You look sick."
"I'm fine, something just occurred to me," Said Kimiko, "Raimundo misunderstood something."
"Is that any different from usual?" Asked Jermaine.
"Not really," Laughed Kimiko, before looking down and smiling sadly, "I miss him and for me it's like I only saw him a couple of hours ago."
"More like a day ago." Said Jermaine, "We were buried under that crap for a while."
Kimiko frowned and looked back at it.
"What?" Asked Jermaine.
"Why didn't she just kill us?" Asked Kimiko, "If she knew that we were unprepared and that she had knocked us out, why didn't she just kill us?"
"I dunno, didn't have the time?" suggested Jermaine before Kimiko's meaning dawned on him, "Except she did. She had the sands of time so she already knew she didn't have to do away with us. Her plan will just kill us off anyway."
"That's what I'm thinking," Said Kimiko.
"We've got to get those sands of time back!" Said Jermaine, "The sooner we all recover the better!"
Kimiko looked out to the distance worriedly. It was just one piece of bad news after another here.
(A/N) My GCSE's are done so I'll be back to regular updating. My story "You Might Call it Self Destructive" will have to be put on hold until I finish one of the ones I'm working on because I can't do all three chapters unless I sit here writing every day and unfortunately, I've got other stuff to do as well.
Tell me what you think.
Lots of luv, Becky.