(A:N) Thanks for the awesome reviews! Here's the latest bit of nonsense! Some Rai and Kim action in this chapter!

(&)

Together Forever

Chapter Eleven

Raimundo was lying against one of the tall trees in the temple grounds, it was a warm night and the stars seemed to be burning just a little brighter than usual. Pollen and the sweet scent of flowers filled his nostrils and the quiet of the temple let his mind rest in peace to drift off onto his deepest thoughts. It has been two weeks since the kiss and tell showdown with Jack but for Raimundo the memory was still fresh in his head. He didn't know why it bothered him so much only that it kept nagging at his insides like an infestation of some kind. Things hadn't been the same between the four dragons since that showdown, Clay had been too embarrassed at being a worst kisser than Jack Spicer to really say much to anyone, Raimundo had been more nasty in his comments and actions which he knew he shouldn't have done, Omi couldn't understand why everyone was so mad and upset all the time and poor Kimiko had been getting more abuse than usual from the boys and this had caused her to retreat even further away from them. Her mother and father had both been sending for her over the last two weeks pulling her away from the temple in the middle of training or just when a Shen Gong Wu had revealed itself and because of this she had fallen further behind everyone else in training which was frustrating her more than usual causing her to explode at the smallest things like in the kitchen the other day…

-FLASHBACK-

The monks had all been eating breakfast at the table when Omi has said quite innocently "My Kimiko you look very pretty today" to try and cheer a scowling Kimiko up. Kimiko had responded in quite the opposite way in which they had expected.

"Today? Today? So what I don't usually look pretty? You think I'm ugly? GOD! You guys are such pigs!" she'd screamed the last bit before storming out slamming the door shut so hard that it fell off it's hinges.

"You're cleaning that up!" Raimundo had yelled after her and her response to this statement was an angry roar.

-END FLAHBACK-

Raimundo let out a heavy sigh he sat up a little straighter and glanced at the temple Omi was trying his luck at Goo Zombies three and Clay was busy carving out little figures with his pocket knife neither which greatly appealed to Raimundo at this moment. As for Kimiko she was away at some formal party her father was throwing for the beneficiaries of his company and Kimiko being his pride and joy had had to attend with no choice in the matter. Raimundo frowned at the navy blue sky wondering if Kimiko's boyfriend would be there… he'd only learned she even had a boyfriend after the showdown with Jack when she'd lost her temper and let it slip. He got up from his place on the ground and muttered a curse or two under his breath. He walked around the grounds for a bit when he heard a small sobbing sound he crept closer to the sound and peeked around the corner of the meditation temple and found to his surprise Kimiko!

He studied her up and down his eyes wide with wonder, as he'd never seen her look so beautiful. She was wearing an off the shoulder long red kimono, which was embroidered with golden flowers and patterns a black trim around the neck, she was holding a dark red and black fan which was also richly decorated with a magnificent gold dragon, an elaborate red and gold flower hairpiece was still hanging in her loose hair, her hair looked as if it had been pinned up earlier on in the night but had somehow managed to tumble down as the night went on. She turned her face slightly towards him the moonlight reflecting on her pale white skin made it glow radiantly giving her an almost ghost like appearance. Her lips were painted bright red to match her kimono and her eyes had been done in a sexy smoky effect. She gave another sob or two and Raimundo felt as though she were tugging at his heart with her misery. She turned around fully with her eyes closed and Raimundo noticed that her mascara had run all the way down her elegant face. She opened her watery eyes and caught sight of Raimundo watching her; she sniffed indignantly and hardened her facial expression to one of annoyance.

"What Raimundo? Coming to gloat?" she asked him darkly clearly not in a good mood.

"No… I-I heard you crying and I wanted to know what was up" he walked towards her.

"I don't want your pity Raimundo! And why do you want to know so bad huh? You want to use my pain against me again just like you've been doing since we got back?" she spat at him pushing past him roughly and walking straight past him and heading for the main temple.

"Kim! Kim! Kimi!" Raimundo shouted after her watching her back as she walked away. "Kim wait up!" he ran after her catching her by the arm just as she was ascending the steps to the main temple. "Just tell me what's wrong" he pleaded with her loosening his grip on her delicate arm not wanting to hurt her anymore than she all ready seemed to be.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" she repeated again her voice rising shrilly as tears seemed to be choking her. "My worst fears have just been confirmed that's what's wrong! Now I know for certain that all you men are lying cheating baka yaroo!" she swore loudly in Japanese just encase Master Fung was close by being punished was the last thing she needed right now. Hot tears began to run down her beautiful pale face again slowing pulling the mascara down with them, she tried to pull away from Raimundo not wanting him to see her so vulnerable.

"Kimi please tell what happened I hate seeing you like this" Raimundo pleaded with her. He watched her small body shaking all over her fists cleaned so tightly at her sides that her knuckles were turning white she had her eyes closed as tightly as possible as if she was trying to wish the evenings events away. She opened her eyes and stared into his green eyes which where full of concern and empathy and for the first time in almost four years she felt like that quiet, shy thirteen year old girl back in Rio with the one person she could tell her darkest secret. Raimundo watched her as she gave a huge sob of grief her knees collapsed under her and she fell forward, Raimundo moved quickly acting on pure instinct catching her around the waist as she tumbled toward him. He tried to steady her as she started crying hard her breath coming in sharp painful gasps tears streaming down her face she clung to the material on the back of his tunic as he wrapped his arms around her tighter moving awkwardly to sit on the steps. She sobbed into his chest all the pain and sorrow spilling out from her heart and wetting his tunic. Raimundo felt a pang of pain in his own chest seeing her like this broke his heart and he wanted to hurt whoever had caused his Kimiko so much misery and grief. He cradled her in his strong toned arms and rocked her a little as she cried.

"What happened Kimiko? I can't help you unless you tell me," he whispered gently in her ear. Kimiko tried to stop herself from sobbing so hard she tried to catch her breath to tell him.

"I was at my dad's party… and-and I was looking for Hisoka" she explained still shaking all over, Raimundo pulled her closer to him not liking where this story was going; Hisoka was Kimiko's boyfriend. "We had a fight and he stormed off-so-so I went looking for him… to apologise or something like that" she shook her head obviously she didn't want to remember what happened next but Raimundo gave her a squeeze silently encouraging her to go and she took a deep yet unsteady breath and continued slowly, "So I looked everywhere for him and then-and then-" her eyes swelled up with tears again and she sobbed the last part out to him "I walked into my dad's study and found him with keilko!" Raimundo's stared at her in shock her boyfriend and best friend had both betrayed her? In the same night? No wonder she was in such a mess. Raimundo felt a hatred bubbling up from his stomach, it made his blood boil and a vein started to pulse in his right temple.

"I'm going to kill them both!" He spat angrily springing to his feet when Kimiko caught him by his top and started at him with huge pleading eyes.

"Please don't go Rai," she whispered her bottom lip trembling, "I need you right now" she hugged his midriff tightly. He slid back down beside her and pulled her into a tight hug again stroking her long soft black hair.

"Why don't we go to Rio for a few days?" he asked her suddenly.

"What?" she blinked at him in shock.

"Yeah it'd be great!" he said happily scanning her face, "Think about it" he grinned at her. "We could laze about all day eating ice cream and candy floss, we could watch my family perform in our circus, we could go surfing and at night we could watch the sunset and walk along the beach under the stars and try and count how many there are just like we used to when we were younger!" his voice was full of enthusiasm and she couldn't help but smile at him. Raimundo felt warmth spread from his chest right the way down into his very fingertips at the sight of that smile. She let out a small airy laugh and he brushed some of her hair out of beautiful face. Seeing the light returning to her tranquil blue eyes he could feel his heartbeat in his head, there seemed to be a lump in his throat and he could feel the palms of his hands starting to sweat with nerves. He felt a strange sudden urge come over him as his eyes caught sight of her plump lips… they looked so good to him and he wanted nothing more than to lean in and taste her sweet lips. What? What is wrong with me? He thought angrily, it's Kimiko! She's my friend nothing more and she's been hurt don't you dare take advantage! He mentally scolded himself. I wish I could've protected her from the pain he thought tracing the outline of her face with his fingertips and he nearly lost control of his emotions when she leaned her face into his hand and nuzzling it. He swallowed hard his heart beating faster he felt himself leaning closer to her against his will. He aw her look at him through half closed eyes as she also leaned in closer to him until the tips of their noses were brushing. Raimundo gently cupped her face in his tan hands and closed his eyes leaning in he kissed her lips gently revelling in wicked white chocolate, sweet honey, delicious vanilla flavoured lips that were temptingly tasty.

Just as he was daring to go in for a second kiss she pushed him away and burst into hysterical sobs again howling so loud and so hard that Omi, Clay and Dojo came running out to see what was wrong.

"What's doing on out here?" Dojo asked staring at the howling teenage girl as Raimundo's face was screwed up in anger.

"For fu-" Raimundo never got to finish his sentence.

"Language Raimundo!" Omi snapped at him and then turning his attention to Kimiko, he patted her on the back sympathetically and asked, "Is the Xiaolin way too difficult for you Kimiko? I understand if it is too stressful on such a delicate female as yourself" he smiled only to receive a fist to the face. Kimiko was standing now tear and mascara stains running down her face she was seething mad Raimundo tried to reach a hand out to her but she shrugged it off walking to the top of the steps and turning to face the boys.

"I am sick and tired of you three acting like your better than me!" her blue eyes flashed dangerously. "I am just as good as you three and just because I'm a girl doesn't give you the right to keep putting me down! I'm sick of being treated like an object instead of a person and I'm sick of everyone trying to rule me and hating me and I can't take it anymore! I HATE YOU!" she screamed at them and Raimundo took a step back as he swore he saw her blue eyes flash an ember colour for a split second. Kimiko gave a cry of pain as her hands shot up to her head and again her knees gave way this time Clay caught her on her way down.

"I need help here partner!" Clay yelled urgently as Kimiko continued to scream in pain and hold her head.

"Master Fung! Master Fung!" Omi went running off into the bowls of the temple to get help as Raimundo rushed to Kimiko's side.

"C'mon girl! What is it what's wrong?" Raimundo begged her reaching out a hand to her but at the same second Kimiko's eyes shot open she said something in a language Raimundo nor Clay recognised and a surge of heat blasted through her body causing the Texan to drop her on the ground she tilted her head back again and let out yet another scream of pain as a sudden burst of red aura burst out from her body and ascending into the heavens above, just as Master Fung appeared clasping his hands on either side of her head and reciting something in ancient Chinese to which Kimiko fell limp in his arms.

"What in tarnation?" Clay asked bewildered fixing his cowboy hat and staring at Master Fung.

"She was fine till Omi butted in and made a mess of things!" Raimundo dived at the youngest monk who squeaked and hide behind Clay who was holding a fuming Raimundo at arms length.

"That is enough young Xiaolin warriors!" Master Fung's voice boomed from above them and they all immediately stopped what they were doing and stood up straight. Raimundo's green eyes drifted to a limp Kimiko still out of it in Master Fung's arms.

"Please Master Fung" Raimundo begged, "What just happened to Kimiko?" Master Fung could see that the Brazilian was truly worried and that his heart was aching for the young dragon of fire.

"Go to your rooms I will be able to tell you more tomorrow. Come Dojo." Raimundo's mouth hung open in shock as he tried to protest Clay and Omi both grabbed him and pulled him toward their sleeping quarters. He looked over his shoulder as Master Fung disappeared; Raimundo shouted her name out to the heavens willing them not to take her from him.

--

Dojo watched intensely as Master Fung worked his magic on the limp Japanese girl. "It is as I feared Dojo" Master Fung whispered to the small dragon who swallowed hard. "Go get the elder monks and tell them to come here. We have much to discuss." Dojo slithered slowly out of the room his heart pounding hard in his chest a feeling of dread washing over him he just prayed that the Heylin side had missed the big cosmic show.

--

A smile curved on his face as he felt the sudden burst of energy being released to the cosmos he laughed in amusement. "Did you feel that power?" he asked her.

"Oh course I did!" she snapped back, "Why are you so happy about it? There's a surge of power on the Xiaolin side!" she placed her hands on her hips and stared at him for an explanation. He smirked at her knowingly and turned his attention to his giant all Seeing Eye.

"I believe we can make this work to our advantage" he laughed again at the slumbering figure reflected in the eye.

(A:N) Ahhhh that was terrible! I think my writing's getting worse! I have major writers block going on so everything just coming out so crap! I'm really sorry for the crappy chappie  Hopefully writer's block goes away soon and I can give you a good chapter!

.:Dannii:.