Chapter 10

Trust or Doubt

"I can't believe what I'm seeing!" Deadpanned Raimundo still keeping his eyes on the perplexing scene he stood a sole witness to. Kadin grinned self-importantly over his shoulder. "How did you do it?" He wondered aloud.

The last of the black dragons shrugged in an indifferent manner that pretty much screamed 'I could 'cause I'm the best', thing which only annoyed Raimundo less than it should have been. "It's something I've always had. Talent!"

The brunet narrowed his eyes. "Well I can see something you don't have."

"The latest number of 'Traditional Home'?" Was the curious response.

"No, it's – wait! What?" It took Raimundo several seconds to wrap his mind around what Kadin has just said. "You're into architecture-y stuff?"

The blue haired man snorted. "It's not architecture-y stuff, it's interior design! Who do you think decorated the cave? It certainly wasn't like that for the past thousands of years."

Rai shook his head. "Okay, either you're really weird or I'm losing my touch. And I'm pretty sure it's not the latter."

Soft whimpers dissolve any rising argument and the two turned to look down at the gigantic form of a strangely docile Cerberus. Kadin went to pat the middle head talking to him as if to a normal dog. "What's up boy? Sad you don't get to play. Well, I'm sure gonna bring you a few playmates when I'm done with your master. Just stay put and let us pass, okay? Good doggie!"

Several feet away, Raimundo watched the whole thing slightly disturbed. He may not have known Kadin for long, but he had glimpsed moments of his strict, cruel side. The way he was acting, playful and sweet – even to a monster like Cerberus – kind of scared him a bit and left him to speculate on where he was coming from, or rather, when he was coming from. Despite his young appearance, he made him think he was way older than he believed, with his all-knowing attitude, the undoubted confidence bordering on arrogance, and his rather commanding behavior, like a leader who has never had anyone disobey him before…

He shook his head, trying to dissolve those troubling thoughts. Besides, this was not the best time for such distractions. Noticing the blue haired man standing up, Rai followed him through the adamantium gate that separated the Underworld from the human realm.

"So, we find your friends and I get my pendant." Stated Kadin at which the brunet simply nodded.

Any further commentaries were halted, however, the moment they stepped out in the cavernous enclosure that housed Hades' domain. On the other side of the cave, embedded in the wall, was the general's very palace which was almost overflowing with guards, demons and – to Rai's relief and concern – bursts of flames, earthquakes and mini-tsunamis.

Not waiting or caring for Kadin's approval, Rai leaped over the edge of the cliff and channeled his chi in order to manipulate the air to keep him above ground. He flew over the elaborate Greek styled buildings, dodging as he did so other beings dashing from one place to another. As he neared the southern entrance, Rai stopped and clapping his hands together, sent a gust of wind that blew away the doors and any sentinels that had the misfortune of standing there.

He landed gracefully and took off for the battlefield, completely ignoring the dragon's cries for him to stay still and listen for a sec. A sudden explosion blasted a nearby fountain to pieces flinging rubble and dust all around. The force threw Raimundo to the ground, knocking the breath out of him and tossed Kadin right out of the sky and crashing into a field outside the castle.

With his body protesting after so much abuse, Rai groaned as he shakily stood up. He held his head in his hands, struggling to cease the constant spinning and regain his equilibrium. Because of this, a figure nimbly approached him and didn't hesitate to deliver a bone crushing hit in his unprotected solar plexus.

The unexpected pain that bloomed in his abdomen almost knock him out. He screamed as he was, once again, thrown back but this time his mind registered the assailant and he rolled out of the way just as a foot smashed the ground where he had been. Coughing, Raimundo blinked, finally catching sight of the demon.

The tall man, sporting two swirling horns on his bald head and goat like legs glared down at him for a split of second before he pounced again. Rai ogled at the fast move and nearly had his head separated from his body if it weren't for his quick reflexes. The punch only sent him skidding on the ground and the satyr just kept his relentless assault, not letting the xiaolin dragon any room for a counterattack.

-(-)-

Meanwhile, a certain pink haired demoness was stealthily sneaking through the high corridors of Hades' most inner sanctuary, tuning out the sporadic explosions or the continuous screams that seemed to echo around her. She eventually spotted an ornate, golden trimmed double door and smirked triumphantly.

Quickening her pace, Karyne creaked open the entrance and peeked inside. Two lion statues stood on either side of the door while the humongous bed nearly covered the opposite wall. Other pedestals supporting blue flaming candles were placed around the walls and the soft, heavenly carpets could have swallowed anyone with their comfort.

Karyne only paid minimal attention to the man's decorating choices and headed straight to a column on the far side of the room on which sat a black simple helmet. She grinned and grabbed it, only then sensing the eyes that have been fixed on her the whole time.

Mentally cursing herself, the cat leaped sideways missing by inches the lion's razor teeth as it crashed into the wall. She used the column as a springboard and jumped over the second feline darting for the door the moment she saw the clear path. But the statues were quick to recover and were on her tail in second two.

Placing the helmet at her belt, she drew her sword and swiftly coated the blade with a thick layer of demonic energy. With a cat-like-hiss she ran to meet her aggressors. Several slashes and bites later, Karyne emerged from Hades' personal chambers limping and nursing three long scratches on her left forearm.

"Stupid job…Stupid dragon…Stupid Hades…Stupid violent world that doesn't give me a break." She mumbled attempting to wrap her bleeding limb as she took the way back to the fight before the others realized she was gone.

-(-)-

Raimundo grunted pushing himself up from the hole he was thrown into. His whole body hurt like hell and he was begging every deity that this whole mess would be over with as soon as possible. He wobbled on his feet and groaned when he saw the satyr coming at him. He was a bit scratched but otherwise in a way better shape than Rai.

Not hesitating in the least – and not willing to get beaten up even more – the brunet turned tail and darted inside the building. He knew the satyr was behind him from the constant clangs of his hooves on the polished floors so he pushed forward through hallways and doors until the sound of his pursuer diminished.

He burst through a set of doors and slammed them behind them, his body giving away and sliding to the ground right as he did so. He panted heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead and neck and arms slack by his sides. "Could this get any worse…?" He droned with his eyes closed.

Opening them slightly, he paused for a few seconds before blinking in astonishment. "Wow…"

-(-)-

Kimiko angrily threw her flaming fist forward sending a wave of fire that ate through the few demons running towards her. She somersaulted as a blade flickered beneath her and swiftly turned on her heels burying her leg in someone's stomach. Using her moaning opponent as a launch pad she back flipped and fell with her knee in another one's back.

She jumped back and took a few calming breaths. The demons just kept coming one after another and it didn't leave them time to regroup or run away. She had long since lost sight of Clay and Omi and Karyne simply disappeared the moment the fight has began. She was worried about them and so far, she has tried to get back to where they had split up with no apparent luck.

Her thoughts were broken up and she had to duck several jabs after which she quickly retaliated with a high kick. She spun under a strong punch that made her skin tingle and shot up hurling a fire ball at her opponent. The light rumble of the ground calmed her somewhat and she sprinted towards where she hoped the source was.

The billowing cloud of dust slowly dispersed to reveal a figure. Unfortunately it wasn't the one she expected. Kimiko growled lowly in her throat and leaped high, coming down with a drop kick. The person parried her strike and pushed her back, flapping his wings to gain height. Once above the settling dirt he glowered at the black haired girl.

"What's with you woman?"

"What's with me?" She seethed. "I'm stuck in the middle of this whole disaster, my boyfriend is missing, that pink haired harpy is plotting something and you're a perfect punching bag right now." She confirmed her words with a blast of fire aimed at the winged boy.

Kadin's eyes widened and he dropped down pressing his black wings closer to his body. He leaned back to avoid an uppercut and stepped away from a side kick. He caught her left wrist and twisted it earning a grunt from the girl, but Kimiko spun in place and swept at his legs at the same time. He jumped but Kimiko was looking forward to that as she thrust her fist in his chest freeing her arm and giving herself some space.

The blue haired boy snarled, his eyes gaining a red hue and his fingers slowly shifting into claws. He dashed to meet her with a kick which Kimiko ducked. She rolled on the ground and threw a wave of fire from her hand as she stopped in a crouch. Kadin's wings suddenly spread wide open and protected him before he shot up and flew behind her.

"Simple tricks like that are futile against me, little girl. Can't you do any better?"

"I warn you…you're making a huge mistake, pal." Kimiko threatened.

"I don't think so. You're way over your head, little girl."

Kimiko yelled willing the flames to engulf her body. "I'll show you... Phoenix Strike Fire!" She leaped at the grinning dragon, but before she could release her attack, a purplish blur passed between them and smashed in the ground tossing both airborne fighters back down.

Kadin groaned, blinking away the shiny dots. An unexpected pressure on his throat had him looking up, straight in the vacant eyes of a pink haired cat demoness. He smirked when Karyne held up the helmet she stole. "Well, took you long, didn't it?"

She glared, yet removed her sword from his throat and let him stand. "Don't look for me again, understand?"

"Can't promise anything, kitty cat!" Teased the dragon grabbing the artifact. "Our contract is over now. Thank you and goodbye."

Karyne kept on glaring when she glimpsed from the corner of her eye the approaching mass of fire. She instinctively leaped away but she was a bit put off seeing Kadin do the same. She groaned as Kimiko jumped out of the blaze and fixed them both with cold blue eyes.

"I can explain!" She sputtered immediately.

Her only response was a wave of red-white flames.

"Where's Clay when you need him?" She muttered diving behind a boulder that might have been part of a column.

-(-)-

The one in question was having his fair share of trouble, though. The tall, Texan boy drove the Fist of Tebigong through the nearest rock with a ferocious battle cry. The hit shattered it and sent dozens of smaller stones towards his approaching foes, succeeding in distracting them in order for Omi to pounce from behind and effortlessly knock them out.

"Watch out!" Dojo's shout forced Clay to instinctively duck just as two beams soared over his head. He turned around digging his hands into the ground and swiftly threw the slab of rock at two forthcoming demons, noting with a vague pleasure how it seemed to flatten them.

Somewhere, in his peripheral view he observed Omi leaping expertly over his opponents, delivering quick and precise blows that sidetracked or just plain incapacitated them. He spun in place right as he touched the ground and released a torrent of water that swept away the demons. Nevertheless, they were replaced at once by dozens of others.

"We have to find Kimiko and Karyne and – as much as I hate to say it– run away as far as possible." Omi spoke narrowly dodging being speared.

Clay could only grunt in agreement as he blocked a punch, retaliating with his own wu infused one. "Hopefully they are together…" He trailed not liking sticking around any longer.

A sudden gust of wind nearly knocked them down. Faster than the three could manage to process, Raimundo leaped from a balcony and – looking quite panicked until he set his eyes on them – dropped hard with a kick over a sword wielding guard. He flipped up to them and straightened up panting.

"Boy, am I glad to see you? Can you do me a favor and keep this guy busy until I can breathe properly again? Thanks." He then pushed them forward and both Clay and Omi finally spotted the satyr man jumping down.

"Well, you heard boss…Good luck!" Dojo slithered away, waving through crushing, angry and violent limbs as they thundered to subdue the intruders…and failing miserably.

-(-)-

It took the xiaolin dragons of earth and water several seconds to understand that, one, Raimundo has just appeared in front of them looking a bit worse for wear but otherwise fine, and two, he has just asked them in one breath to fight someone who he had clearly struggled for a while. He then left, just as quickly, with Dojo not too far away. Omi was sincerely happy of the turnout. Now, they could finally leave together, just as they have first planned. If only they could get a break from all this fighting.

He crouched down under the man's fist and leaped away. He let Clay get up and personal while he prepared to shoot a water tendril. It wrapped around the satyr's limb and Omi pulled unbalancing him and giving the blond the opportunity to connect with a fast right cross.

The bald creature groaned but pivoted on his foot and tried to hit with a kick. Clay blocked it with his forearm but Omi jumped from behind him and aimed a kick in the back of his neck. Distracted, the satyr stumbled forward and right into Clay's awaiting fist. He crumbled to the ground unconscious.

Slow clapping quieted the battlefield as a man wearing a black armor stepped from the shadows of the veranda. Raimundo walked behind them with Dojo clutching his shirt nervously.

Hades regarded them with a cold stare. "You are definitely brave to come here, in the lion's den. I wonder if that bravery doesn't slip into stupidity, don't you think?" The three glared. All around them, demons began to regroup looking more and more pissed at the beating they have received so far and willing to get some payback.

A flapping sound had the ruler of the Underworld looking up at the figure of Kadin slowly descending beside him. He scowled while the boy grinned.

"Should have known you were somehow involved. What are you doing here?"

"Retrieving my prize." Raimundo caught his glance and took the medallion from his pocket. Ignoring his friends questioning looks, he threw the object at the raised hand of the dragon. "Thanks you. With that out of the way, let's have a talk, Hades."

The two stepped back out of sight. Once they were gone, several demons took the initiative and leaped at the three humans and one dragon. But before they could touch them, Dojo shifted in his large, true form and flew with Raimundo, Clay and Omi on his back.

"What in tarnation was that?" Quizzed the blond.

"I too am curious of that. How did you know that person, Raimundo?"

For his part, the brunet sighed. "Let's find Kim and Karyne and I'll tell you everything. It's quite a long story."

It didn't take long to spot the girl since they were trading punches and insults not too far away. Dojo picked them up and Clay and Raimundo separated them but they still glowered at each other. The moment didn't last long as Kimiko then focused her whole attention to Raimundo, one second hugging and kissing him and the other hitting him in the shoulder and yelling for being so reckless and stupid.

Raimundo smiled during the entire thing. He was simply happy to finally be with his friends again, to finally have the girl of his dreams in his arms and a comfortable bed in the near future.

"Wait! Dojo, we have to go to Master Monk Guan's temple."

"Huh? Why?"

"What about Master Fung?"

"He's already there Omi. All the monks are safe."

The youngest dragon smiled relieved.

Clay, on the other hand, sighed exasperated. "Alright, what have ya been up ta lately? And ya better spill ever'thang."

Rai only chuckled.