A/N Alright, exams are finally over (FREEDOM!!!) so I am able return to writing, I thank you all for you patience and especially those who took the time to review. And now with out any further ado; on with the story.

"Are you serious?" Veata asked, not sure if this was one of his jokes.

Rai, walked up to where Veata was lying, he took the blanket and put it back in his backpack.

"Yes I am," Rai replied, "I still don't know if the Order is where I'm meant to be, but so far it's the best option I have."

Rai slung his backpack on his shoulder.

"So how far is it to your place?"

"50 miles or so," Veata replied, standing up.

"Well, I guess we'd better starting walking."

The wind picked up.

"That may not be necessary," Veata replied thoughtfully.

Veata pulled out her Order Dagger and held it out into the wind. Rai was about to ask what she was doing when a strange symbol appeared on the blade.

"Perfect," Veata muttered as she put the dagger away.

Before Rai had a chance to ask what she was on about, she pulled Rai into a hug. Suddenly Rai a massive chill ran up Rai's spine and his whole body felt like pins and needles while everything went out focus. When things came back into focus, air around Rai turned so cold, he visibly shivered. This told Rai one thing; wind elementals, lots of them.

When Veata let go of Rai, he turned round to see that they weren't on the hill any more. Instead they were on the roof of a tower, over looking what looked like the temple except with more towers, as well as a bit bigger. But as similar as it seemed, Rai knew this place was nothing like the temple. The whole place seemed to welcoming Rai with a silent greeting. The sight, the sounds and even the wind it self made Rai feel like he was meeting a dear friend. Rai felt at peace, safe, welcome as if he was meant to be here.

"We're here," Veata said, smiling at Rai's state of euphoria, "this place has gained many names over the years but I personally just like to call it home."

Rai took in a deep breath, taking in as much of this place as he could before letting it out in a blissful sigh.

"Home sounds like the perfect name," he said.

He looked down to see a courtyard right below them. As idea crossed his mind, he smiled. Then without warning he picked up Veata bridal style and jumped off the tower. Veata screamed as they fell until Rai used his wind element to slow down their descent and they landed softly in the courtyard. He looked down at Veata, who was in a state of shock.

"Could you give a girl a little warning?!" Veata half shouted.

"Now we're even," Rai replied smugly, putting Veata down, "besides I think it improved your hair style."

Veata looked up and saw that her hair all of a sudden resembled Frankenstein's bride. She quickly flattened it, then had a look round and realised which courtyard. She stared thoughtfully into space before turning back to Rai.

"Alright Rai, I'm going to see about finding a personal teacher for you. Just wait here, I'll be back soon."

Veata left the courtyard; Rai took of his back pack and made himself comfortable on one of the benches. Rai let out a yawn; he hadn't gotten much sleep last night. He had had a lot on his mind and at about two in the morning Veata had gotten touchy feely in her sleep, he wouldn't have minded if it hadn't resulted in him having to escape a choke hold. Rai decided to catch some more Zs while he was waiting for Veata.

He drifted off to sleep until he felt the air turn cold around him. Rai opened his eyes to see an old man; resembling Master Fung except buffer and carrying a Bo staff, walk in to the court yard.

"Hi there," Rai said sleepily.

An old woman sat at the table, drinking tea, looking at Veata.

"Well I'm glad that you are alright, you had me worried, though I don't know whether or not I approve of you spending the night alone with a boy, especially one as attractive as Raimundo."

"Sifu An, I'm capable at handling someone like Raimundo," Veata said.

"That's what worries me," the old lady replied.

There was a moment of silence while the two women continued to drink their tea. Sifu An was the first one to speak.

"Tell me Veata, why are you trying to getting me to accept Raimundo? I have already been voted out by the others."

Veata placed her cup down.

"Because I think that Rai would benefit greatly from your teachings," Veata answered, "and I know you won't teach him if you don't want to."

"And I don't," Sifu An bluntly replied.

"You know, you were the one who told me to always give someone a chance, despite past experiences."

"Well I guess that makes me a hypocrite. That's just too bad isn't it, I'm not training Raimundo and that's final."

Sifu An finished the cup of tea and was about to pour her self another when she saw giving her puppy dog eyes and sticking her bottom lip out.

"You know I don't like you using that face on me, Veata, so stop it."

Veata's bottom lip started quivering.

"Alright! I'll have one cup of tea with him. Happy?"

Veata smiled.

"No but it's a start."

Sifu An shook her head and finally poured her self another cup of tea.

"You are going to be the death of me, Veata. So where is Raimundo?"

"Oh I just left him in the courtyard; he's probably taking a nap."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that."

Veata was about to ask what Sifu An was talking about when Rai burst in.

"Veata! There's this loon after…"

Rai was interrupted when he was tackled by the old man. After a brief scuffle on the floor, the old man was able to use his staff to pin Rai face down.

"Caught you, you filthy, intruding cur," he exclaimed in triumph.

"Cur?! Could you least insult me with a name that was invented after the 19th century?" Rai shot back.

Sifu An cleared her throat. When the old man saw Veata and Sifu An, he quickly stood up, using the butt of the staff to keep Rai pinned to the ground.

"My apologies, Sifu An. I was just apprehending an intruder," The old man said, bowing his head respectfully.

"Quite alright Master Lei, though I think there has been some mistake."

"No kidding," Rai replied sarcastically.

"Raimundo has been offered a place in the Order, he was about to have a cup of tea with me and Veata," Sifu An explained.

"Then why did he run?"

"Dude, you came running at me with a big stick!! What was I meant to do?"

Sifu An briefly pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.

"Master Lei, you might recall we discussed your methods the last time we had a visitor?"

"I was protecting the Order."

"Yes and because of that the mail man still refuses to deliver to our door. Now would you kindly let Raimundo stand up? We'll take it from here."

Master Lei released Rai and left, muttering to him self something about "pacifist females". Rai picked himself up.

"I apologise for Master Lei," Sifu An said "he takes security around here very seriously."

"Eh, don't sweat it, ever since I came to china I've grown used to stuff like that, what with training, shen gong wu and sneak attacks," Rai replied calmly, dusting him self off.

Sifu An raised an eyebrow.

"You seem surprisingly indifferent about it."

Rai shrugged slightly.

"Hasn't killed me yet," he replied as he clicked his back in noisily.

Sifu An kept her face blank though Veata saw the sides of her mouth curling up slightly.

"Indeed, please have a seat."

Rai sat down at the table as Sifu An poured him a cup of tea.

"I am Sifu An, one of the high ranking members of the Order. I'd give you the specifics but I highly doubt that you care."

"No, not really," Rai replied, "though if you are high ranking, shouldn't you have a title like 'master' or perhaps more appropriately 'mistress'? "

"I do have one, 'Sifu' is a title, it means teacher," Sifu An answered "the term mistress seems as if I have control over you. I offer training, guidance and advice to my pupils. To some people I even act like a mother figure."

Not sure how to reply Rai took a sip from his tea.

"Don't drink your tea so noisily, it's not polite."

Rai stopped drinking his tea.

"Sit up straight, your slouching and elbows off the table."

Rai sat up straight and took his elbows off the table.

"You've got the mother part down pat, that's sure," he mumbled.

"Don't mumble, it's not becoming," Veata said, trying her best to look innocent.

Rai glared at Veata but realising that he couldn't win this one, went back to drinking his tea. While doing this he noticed that Sifu was looking him over as if doing some sort inspection. He stopped drinking again.

"Like what you see?" Rai asked, putting on one of his smug grins.

Sifu An frowned at Rai before laying her cup down.

"Raimundo, I will be frank with you," Sifu An began, "I do not trust you and if I had had my way, your offer to the order would have been revoked."

Veata crossed her fingers under the table, hoping Rai wouldn't blow it. Rai theatrically wiped his brow.

"Phew, for a moment I was beginning to think everyone in this place had a few screws loose," Rai replied.

Sifu An looked at Rai, almost dumb struck while Veata suddenly got the urge to slowly and repeatedly bang his head against the table. Soon Sifu An found her voice again.

"And, what may I ask, do you mean by that?"

"Well I belong… I mean used to belong to a temple that you guys have some beef with, yet I am still offered a place in the order," Rai replied, "I beat up three members of the Order and nearly made a fourth member wet her self, don't deny it Veata, and yet this place still seemed to be welcoming me with open arms. You've got admit, that's a bit screwy."

Veata hated to admit it, but Rai did have a point. Sifu An looked at Rai intently.

"So you agree that we have no reason to trust you?"

"Pretty much, and I have no reason to trust the order," Rai replied. "But I would still like to give the Order a shot and trust is more of luxury than a necessity for me right now."

"If trust isn't so important to you, why were you angry at the temple for not trusting you?"

Great so they know about my little out burst. Oh well from what I've seen I'd kinda be surprised if they didn't.

"I wasn't mad at them for not trusting me, I was mad at them for lying about trusting me," Rai replied bluntly, "if you trust me, that's fine, if you don't, do what you must but be honest about it."

There was an awkward moment of silence, Sifu An looked into space, seemingly processing what Rai had said. She finally spoke again.

"Tell me, Raimundo, since trust is not so important to you at this moment, would you be willing to submit to any precautions I deem in the Orders best interests?"

Rai paused for a moment, considering the request.

"I'm willing but on three conditions," Rai finally answered.

"And what are they?"

"Firstly, what ever you do, you must first tell me before doing it, no going behind my back."

Sifu An nodded, indicating she understood.

"Secondly, you stay out of here," Rai continued tapping his left temple with finger, "I don't know if you can enter my head and I don't care, what goes on in my mind is my business and no-one else's."

Sifu An nodded again.

"And the third?" She asked.

"Nothing that involves a rubber glove, sorry but I ain't down with that."

Veata spluttered from accidentally taking too big a gulp of tea. Sifu An on the other hand, looked at Rai quite thoughtfully. She extended her hand to Rai.

"Your terms are reasonable, Raimundo, do we have an accord?"

"Sure I guess."

Rai took Sifu An's hand and shook it. Afterwards Sifu An turned to Veata.

"Please show Rai to where he will be sleeping."

Veata bowed her head respectfully to Sifu An before standing up. Sifu An turned back to Rai as he followed suit.

"Welcome to the Order, Raimundo."

"Thanks, and thank you for the tea, it was really good."

Sifu An gave Rai a genuine smile.

"It is my pleasure, stop by any time and I will make you some more."

Rai went out the door to get his back pack. Veata was about to leave when she heard Sifu An cleared her throat. Veata turned around to face her again.

"I changed my mind," Sifu An said, "I will teach Raimundo."

"Because he agreed to submit to any precautions you had in mind?" Veata asked.

Sifu An gave Veata a sly grin.

"No, because he complemented my tea."