Punishment

Raimundo's POV

I practiced non-stop since we came back from Chase's lair! I felt so angry that there was nothing we could do to bring Kimiko back. I swear I've already destroyed about 10 wooden dummies by now. Right when I was about to strike another dummy someone caught my arm. I saw that it was Master Fung and stopped and just had a pain look on my face.

"Come young monk let us join the others in the main room." Master Fung said.

I nodded and we headed to the main room. There I saw Clay and Omi siting on the ground not talking, but just staring at me.

"Looks like we're all feeling lower than a snake's belly." Clay spoke.

"I cannot still believe what Kimiko had just told us." Omi said.

"It's my fault . . . as a leader I failed all of you. I couldn't protect Kimiko and help her like I should have." I replied.

"Do not blame yourselves young monks. No one is at fault here, however now it seems we must come up with a new plan. It seems to me that Chase must be working with some else . . . a new enemy perhaps." Master Fung spoke.

"If that's true then we have to stop Chase and the others!" Omi said.

"How do you suppose we do that? We don't even really know Chase's plan partner." Clay said.

"I think I know someone who can help us." I grinned.

Kimiko's POV

"AHHHH!" I screamed.

I felt the pain rush through my whole body. I was now lying on the ground and I could see my own blood on the ground. I wanted to cry, but I held all the pain in and stayed strong. My vision was blurry, but I could see Chase staring at me from above while Wuya began to beat me bloody. She used every strength in her power to make sure I felt pain. I sometimes would be able to stop her attacks and attack her, but most of the time she'd get me. I had so many bruises, scratches, and possibly broken bones, but I did all I could to stand back up.

However, every time I got back up she'd knock me down. Soon I wasn't able to feel anything after a while and we've been fighting for the last hour or so. I can't tell because of how much pain I'm in. Soon Chase came down to stop Wuya and he looked down at me and grinned.

"This is your punishment for breaking the rules Kimiko and I hope now you learned your lesson." He said.

"Go jump off a cliff . . ." I said weary and he laughed.

Suddenly I saw Jack send some of his bots to pick me up. Chase walked with us to where there was a cell in front of me. The whole room was covered in ice and I could feel every inch of my body already getting cold. The Jack-bots chained me to the wall and when they let go I fell to the ground weak and tired. I looked at Chase and glared at him.

"Leave us!" He ordered.

Everyone left leaving Chase and I all alone. He walked up to me and bent down and lifted my face so that we meant eye to eye. I spat at him and he angrily threw me back and cursed loudly.

"You should be thankful I didn't have Wuya kill you for disobeying me!" Chase shouted.

"I knew you wouldn't kill me Chase. You need me more then I need you." I replied coughing.

"True, but remember that I can take your ring off at any time! So you better do what I say from now on or you might end up being the one to kill all those you love instead of me!" Chase said and he began to bend down toward me again and grin.

"Now you're going to suffer by staying in here in this freezing room, until you realize what you've done." Chase said.

He got up and left leaving me in the freezing room all alone. I was so tried, but it was so hard to fall asleep with all the wounds I've gotten and not to mention it was cold. Suddenly I saw Jack walk in the room he didn't say anything, but he held a blanket in his hands and he threw it to me. He was about to walk out until I said something.

"Thank you Jack . . ." I said weary and he left.

Raimundo's POV

It felt like I waiting for hours. I stood on the beach waiting for her to show up any second like she used to. Suddenly I saw her pop out of the water and I quickly rushed to her helping her out from the ocean. She began to cough, until she finally caught her breath.

"What took you so long to get here!? I was waiting for what seemed like forever!" I shouted.

"Well excuse me for being late, it's not like we had a set time to meet Rai!" Kimiko replied.

I was about to say something, but then I noticed some visible wounds on her. I saw some scratches and bruises. I quickly pulled her closer and got a better look. I felt her trying to pull away, but I stood my ground.

"What happen!?" I demanded.

"It's nothing Rai let it go." She replied.

"He did this to you didn't he! I knew we shouldn't have left you! Why wouldn't you just come with us!?"

"You know why I couldn't. As long as this ring is on me I'm . . . his . . . If I left with all of you, he'd find me. This ring is like a tracker, he'll know where to find me. Besides he's the only one that as the ability to take it off. My elemental powers are sealed, but soon I'll have to eventually I'll have to use them. Whether I'm one the good or Heylin side . . ."

"Kim . . ."

"Look you guys need be prepared. I have a feeling that Chase will be releasing the Phoenix pretty soon. When he does I'm pretty sure I won't be able to control it, so I need you to promise me that no matter what you'll all do whatever it takes to stop the Phoenix. Even if it costs my life. . ."

"I won't let that happen Kimiko no matter what! We will stop the Phoenix and save you! Believe in us . . ."

Suddenly Kimiko hugged my tightly and I returned the hug as well. I felt her burry her head against me chest which made me smile.

"What happen to the immature Raimundo I used to know" She joked.

"He realized he had some responsibilities and matured. Of course he still comes out once in a while." I joked and we both laughed.

"I'll be fine Rai, I'm a lot tougher then you think. Besides Chase and the others don't scare me."

"I know nothing scares you, but more like you scare everyone."

She looked up at me glaring and I just laughed as she gave me a light punch on the shoulder. I saw her take a few steps back from me.

"I'll see you soon." She spoke.

"Yeah," I replied.

Suddenly everything went white and I felt something warm around my eyes. It was the light from the sun as I slowly opened them. It was a new day, but it was just one more day wondering what will happen next.

Kimiko's POV

Suddenly I heard the cell door open as I was starting to wake up. There in front of me was Chase, Hannibal, Wuya, and Jack. Jack began to undo the chains and my hands fell to my side and a wave of pain rushed through me. I saw sorer all over my body, but I made sure that it didn't appear that way to them. Suddenly I noticed a dark figure in the room with everyone else.

"Each morning I appear to lie at your feet, all day I will follow no matter how fast you run, yet I nearly perish in the midday sun. I am a shadow." The dark figure said and I knew that voice.

"You're that voice in my head I used to hear. What brings you here today, because right now I'm a little tied up for the moment." I replied and it laughed.

"Let me formally introduce myself. I am a shadow named Irial and I have been waiting for you chosen one. I've waited centuries for the Phoenix to be reborn and now it had finally revealed itself and you my dear are going to release it . . . tonight."

"And we know exactly where we want you to be when it is released." Chase grinned and everyone laughed, but me. The only thing that was running through my mind were my friends.