Chapter 10

Ok so I am on the 29th episode of Xiaolin Showdown. This is the one with the mermaid. I'm only 7 minutes in and I can already tell you, I don't like the aquatic girl. Somethin's up. Sigh, last chapter you learned Akuma's story. Now some of you realize why Akuma won't leave Oni behind. Kinda cute, kinda sad. All round a good mix to mess with Clay's head. In this chapter, it's gonna be a little choppy, sorry in advance for that. And please please please! Don't be mad about my OC Akuma! ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!

"What happened to your head?" Jack asked, noting the blood stain on Akuma's face and Clay's red bandana around her forehead as she climbed into the seat next to him. Akuma's eyes shifted.

"Long story, the short version, I'm never coming back to Byoki Village." she explained in a bored tone, she was feeling much better now that she and Oni were back together. However in the back of her mind she could still hear Clay's words, echoing in her mind.

'You don't have to be alone…I can be there for you.' His words were sincere, that much she knew. However there was no way he could be the person to help her. not when he looked to Oni as nothing more than a monster. Akuma then smiled and held Oni up, he mewed.

"Whatever. You're back now, so now we can get back to work in finding the Shen Gong Wu." Wuya said, "I have to say Akuma, I'm a little disappointed you weren't able to get the Shard of Lightning. After all, aren't you the dragon of Lightning?"

Akuma looked over to the ghost-like figure and scowled.

"A) I'm not any kind of dragon warrior, and B), they can have the Wu." She said, Jack went to shout something when Akuma covered his mouth with her hand, "Stuff it Steam-punk and let me finish. I'll get the shard no problem, the next time we meet. I still have to make Tex pay for sendin me to the Xiaolin Temple."

"So you wanna tell me what happened back there?" Jack asked bluntly. Akuma shook her head and

"Sorry that's on a need to know basis." She said. Jack scowled.

"Ok, if you're going to be freeloading off of me, you're going to have to tell who just what the hell your story is. Otherwise, I'll drop you and kitty off right here." He threatened. Oni growled at him from Akuma's shoulders, however the boy genius' tone didn't waver. Much to both their surprise. Akuma bit her lip and sighed, defeated.

"It's a long story…"

~0~

"We got the Shard of Lightning!" Kimiko shouted as Clay walked toward them in a slight slump, "You were right Clay, Jack Spicer wasn't anywhere near the Wu when we found it."

"Too bad for you, Akuma." Raimundo said, "Wait, where is that crazy catfreak?"

"Akuma took off with Spicer a little while ago," Clay said, pulling his hat over his head, ashamed.

"What? When did Jack Spicer manage to do that? Why would Jack Spicer to that?" Omi shouted, surprised to hear that once again, Akuma Kitsune had slipped from their grasp.

"My guess is that, Onigafuchi really did have him searchin everywhere for her." Clay said.

"Well on the bright side we managed to get back one of the Shen Gong Wu." Kimiko said with a shrug, "We can focus on getting Akuma back later."

"Right…"

"Cheer up Clay, with Akuma paling around Jack, we're bound to run into her again." Raimundo said, "We can worry about her then. And maybe kick some sense into the girl. Think that rock shook lose a few more screws."

Clay scowled at Raimundo. After hearing Akuma's story, he had a new found sympathy for the girl. Even before that however, Rai had no right to go talking about her like that. Just wasn't right. Dojo grew into larger form as the others climb aboard him. Even if Akuma got away they did still manage to get a hold of what could have been her elemental Wu.

"So, did anyone else manage to figure out why that Villager threw that rock at Akuma in the first place?" Kimiko asked, the others shook their head. Even Clay, he figured it wasn't his place to talk about it anyhow. Besides, the others wouldn't believe him anyway.

~0~

It had been several months since the Shard of Lightning revealed itself. Since then no other Shen Gong Wu had appeared. Which gave the monks a much needed lull of silence from Jack and Akuma., and a much appreciated rest.

However farther away from the Xiaolin Temple, the lack of action and Shen Gong Wu, was making Wuya Restless. Which, annoyed the human population of Jack's lair. She was on a rant about how, they shouldn't have gone off without at least snatching the Shard of Lightning. Especially when Akuma had the perfect chance to steal it from them, along with any other Shen Gong Wu they possessed.

"Such as the Fist of Tebi Gong! You both let that one fall out of your grasp, and not to mention the Golden Tiger claws, you Akuma, managed to drop!" She shouted. Akuma laid atop of one of the massive machines that sat in Jack's lab, she scowled at the ghostly figure and huffed.

"Be quiet old hag. Considering the fact I got kidnapped, I wasn't exactly in any kind of position to steal anything!" Akuma shouted, "They had me on guard 24/7! Nothing I could do!"

"You are a former dragon! You should have been able to use their own skills against them!" Wuya hissed. Down below, Jack looked up from one of the jack-bots he was working on fixing.

"She has a point yaknow. Aren't you on the same level as those Xiaolin losers?" He asked, Akuma jumped down from her perch and landed a few inches from him. Oni rested on her shoulder.

"I had one week, count it, one week of their training!" She said holding up her index finger, "and even if I manage to go up against all four of them at once, they had a home field advantage over me. You never attack someone on their home turf, unless you have the power to back it."

"Where'd you hear that?" Jack asked, he had gotten used to Akuma's constant dropping out of tall places. So her nearly jumping on top of him no longer bothered him. Akuma crouched down on her knees and scowled.

"I read it in a book." She grumbled. Jack's eyes went wide as he readied his next line with sarcasm.

"You can read?!" He shouted, Akuma scowled, then flicked him between the eyes, "Ow!"

"Yes, Jerk Spicer, I can read." She hissed, then jumped down from his work bench and onto the ground, "Since we haven't been doing anything I decided to read some of the books you have."

"And I'm supposed to believe you understood them?" He asked. There was a long silence between the two as Akuma tried to find some kind of come back.

"Ok, fine I had to look up a bunch of stuff but so what? The point is I've read them." She hissed. Jack removed his goggles.

"Whatever, with this weird lull around here. I've been able to focus on more important things." He said, Akuma scowled at him.

"You mean those useless Jack-bots you're ever so proud of?" She asked. Jack glared.

"Hey! They're not useless. I'd like to see what you could come up with? You probably couldn't even turn a light bulb on with a potato battery." He said.

"Uhm, what?" Akuma asked, completely confused. Jack's brows rose.

"You're kidding."

"Dude, I was kicked out of my own village when I was five remember?" She asked, she had told Jack, about her connection with Byoki Village. She had too, otherwise Jack would have dropped them off somewhere else, and as much as Akuma disliked Jack Spicer, she didn't like having no where to stay much more.

"Oh right…well whatever." He said. Even for an 'evil' boy genius, the whole story she had told him, made him feel awkward. "Anyway, I'd still like to see what you could come up with."

"Ok, you have a point there." Akuma grumbled, "But so what? It doesn't do much good to build a bunch of robots, who can't even take out a small cat."

"Will you two FOCUS!?" Wuya shouted, Akuma and Jack jumped in surprise to Wuya's sudden shouting.

"Would you quit sneaking up on me like that!?" Jack shouted, Akuma glared silently.

"You two are some of the most unfocused useless beings on this world!" Wuya shouted, scolding the two. From Akuma's shoulders Oni growled at the ghostly woman. He then jumped from Akuma's shoulders and transformed into his humanoid form.

"Wuya, old friend, how are the two supposed to focus on Shen Gong Wu, when you, my dear friend, have not sensed any?" he asked her. Wuya opened her mouth to speak, but soon closed it. The cat demon had a point. Akuma giggled.

"Oni-chan sure one-upped you." She said, Wuya huffed and simply floated there silently.

"Finished!" Jack shouted excitedly. Akuma looked back at him, had he been working on that the entire time?

"With what?" She asked as she and Oni peered over Jack's shoulder to view his robot. Even if they did turn out to be worthless junk in a fight, it was still pretty interesting to see the finished product. However long it lasted.

"Meet my new and improved Jack-bot!" He shouted, Akuma narrowed her eyes.

"How's this one any more new and improved than your last batch?" She asked crossing her arms. "I mean it's the same old stuff, over , and over again."

"You really know how to such the fun out of everything don't you?" Jack grumbled. Akuma shrugged.

"Just saying."

"Whatever. Let's go." Jack grumbled walking off. Akuma scowled.

"Go where?" she asked as Oni jumped onto her shoulders and she followed. Jack didn't answer, "Hello earth to Jack, what's going on?"

"Just shut up and come on." Jack said, then grabbed Akuma by the hand.

~0~

"I cannot believe you are once again, crawling to that miserable Chase Young!" Wuya growled as Jack searched for the entrance inside a very large mountain. Akuma stared, it had the face of a monster, with massive pillars that looked like teeth. She then looked to Jack.

"Could it be that a certain ghostly witch is jealous?" Jack said feeling his way around the large mountain wall. Wuya let out a growl and attempted to smack Jack repeatedly, however every swing went right through him. "Haha, you can't touch me. Hey Akuma gimme a hand here."

"Who's Chase young? And why do I care enough to help you?" Akuma asked, crossing her arms. Jack scowled.

"He's only the most evil known to the heylin side! What rock have you been living under?" He said, still searching. Akuma shifted her weight to one foot.

"It's more of a whole than a rock." She mumbled.

"Hey!"

"Anyway that still doesn't answer why I care?" She continued, Jack stopped and walked back to Akuma, placing an arm around her shoulers.

"Look you wanna look the evil part, you gotta role with the best of the worst!" He said, "That's Evil 101."

"Spicer, you have exactly three seconds to remove your arms from around Akuma's arm, before I rip it off myself." Oni hissed, Jack removed his arm took a step away from Akuma. Wuya flew over to the duo's other side.

"In all actuality Jack's nothing more than one big fan trying to impress the Heylin Warrior." She said matter-o-factly.

"So what?" Jack whined. Akuma leaned her back against the rocky mountain side and shook her head.

"You're a weird guy aren't you Steam-punk?" she asked. Jack scowled.

"I thought I told you to stop calling me that!" He shouted, suddenly there was a loud noise that made the duo jump.

'Why do you insist on bothering me Spicer?!' a loud voice shouted, Akuma jumped and backed away from the mouth of the mountain.

"W-what was that? Just now?" She asked pointing to the side of the mountain. Jack ignored the girls question and grinned, grabbing Akuma and pulling her close.

"I-I thought I'd bring by a new friend, A former Xiaolin Monk turned evil!" He said giddily. Akuma stared at him wide eyed.

"What game are you playing at here Spicer!?" She shouted, suddenly the mouth to the mountain opened up. In her anger, Akuma, pushed Jack forward, smacking him into the rock door. Jack soon returned, holding his nose.

"That hurt…" he grumbled. Akuma glare intensified.

"I. Don't. Care." She hissed, then was pulled into the cave. When she entered, she couldn't help but stare. The place was beautiful, filled with trees and waterfalls. She was cut off from her daydream by the sound of Jack screaming. She soon realized why; a bunch of jungle cats had began to surround the duo. Akuma frowned.

"If you show them fear, they'll only tease you Jack." Akuma said, holding out her hand towards a black panther. The panther sniffed her hand for a moment, then soon placed it's head on the palm of her hand. "See?"

Jack nodded nervously and placed out his hand toward a tiger, "N-n-nice kitty."

The tiger roared and snapped at him, making Jack scream and hide behind Akuma who sighed. Oni looked to him and cocked his head to the side.

"You truly are a cowardly boy aren't you Spicer?" He asked. Jack shrugged nervously, as Akuma sighed, and looked up to see a dark haired boy. He wore a dark colored suit of armor and was accompanied by a lion. Akuma stared.

"This is a different face than I had expected." He said as he descended toward the duo. Jack suddenly stepped in front of Akuma.

"Yup! Kicked out of the Xiaolin Temple and everything." He shouted, Akuma glared at the back of his head. As a fanboy he was even more annoying. She let out a frustrated growl, and pushed him forward, into the back of a mountain lion.

"You talk too much Steam-punk!" she hissed as Chase Young now stood before her, while in the background Jack was chased by a large jungle cat. She stared at him, he was kind of cute for an evil guy.

"You do not seem afraid of me or my pets, Xiaolin Monk."Chase said to her. Akuma scowled, and crossed her arms.

"I've played with bigger cats than this. Compared to Oni, your jungle cats are stuffed toys." She said, she then smirked, "I've never met a Heylin Warrior before."

Chase Young gave her a slight smirk. One that didn't sit right with Oni, who glared at the Heylin Warrior from Akuma's shoulders.

"Nor I a work of art.*" He said, causing Akuma to blush meanwhile Jack managed to get away from the jungle cat and stand in between the two.

"Hey, what about me?" he whined, Chase narrowed his green snake-like eyes at the boy genius and moved him out of the way.

"I have little interest in anything you want or have to say. Leave." He demanded, Akuma looked over to Jack, sort of feeling bad for him, as a panther grabbed him by the shirt collar and dragged him away. She then looked back to Chase.

"Yaknow…I think I'm gonna go with Steam-punk." She said, then quickly turned around and followed the jungle cat that dragged Jack away. She was stopped by Chase placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I warn you young Monk, if you stay with Spicer, you will only be holding yourself back." He said in a dark tone. On Akuma's other shoulder, Oni growled. He did not like the way this Heylin Warrior.

"Uhm…Oni, little help here." Akuma mumbled, Oni hissed and transformed into a nekomata with Akuma sitting on his back, "Nice meetin ya snake-boy, but I think I'm just gonna grab Steam-punk, and leave now."

Without waiting for any kind of response from Chase, Oni took off collecting Jack from the lion and tossing him upon his back behind Akuma.

"That guy's creepy." Akuma said as Oni flew off, "I don't see why you fangirl over him."

"Hey I do not fanboy over him." Jack said, Akuma shook her head.

"I didn't say you did, fangirl. Anyway that's not the point!" She yelled, "I'm only going to ask you this once ok Jack? Don't ask me to come here again."

Please don't be mad at the strange interest Chase has for Akuma. I'm sort of losing track of how this was going to end. All I know now is that the next few chapters are going to be focusing on a budding relationship between Akuma and Jack. Cause, yaknow Jack's my favorite of all the Xioalin Showdown Characters. He's adorable. Review please. Bye! (*) oh yeah and I also ripped that line from star trek! Spok totally rules!