Author's Note: This is word emphasis

This is book, movie, song, anime/manga, and copy written titles

This is dreams/mindscapes/flashbacks

-This is telepathy-

-This is phone calls-

Chapter 11

Bailey Ranch:

Raimundo stretches, Daddy Bailey had taken over his hogtying lessons so Clay, Omi, and Kimiko could get back to the monastery, and go after the Shen Gong Wu while he and Usagi stuck around for the barrel racing competition. That didn't mean Usagi and Raimundo would leave their friends in the lurch though. However, by all calculations it had been two weeks, four days, and sixteen hours since a Shen Gong Wu activated. Then all at once, and Usagi senses the activation just as Wuya and Dojo do, of four Shen Gong Wu. The Lotus Twister, Longi Kite, Tongue of Saiping, and Sun Chi Lantern. Usagi focuses, " Text Kimiko, tell her we'll get the Longi Kite. "

Raimundo nods, and smirks, " Golden Tiger Claws! "

They dive through, and Usagi tackles the Chameleonbot, " First of all, you're not his type, second, you're fried, Lightning! "

Raimundo grabs the Longi Kite, and they head for the monastery in time to learn that Kimiko and Clay have failed to return. Master Fung tells them, and Omi that the others are being held for ransom. " Great, we need a plan to get them back, because you know they'll have a trap set for us. " Raimundo says.

" Plus, we need to get this done before tomorrow. " Usagi says, frowning.

" Dios Mio, alright, Conejita, we need your beautifully devious mind. " Raimundo says.

" The Sun Chi Lantern should be of some help. " Omi points out.

" True, but we have to be crafty about this, Omi. Honorable tactics won't help in this case. Wait...Ranma, we need you! " Usagi says.

Raimundo pauses, " How can Ranma help us? "

" I can use the Umi-Sen-Ken, one of the two forbidden techniques of the Saotome branch to sneak in, and free them, while you all provide a distraction. " Ranma states, " As long as I remain emotionless I can't be detected. Take Yusuke with you, spirit girl was surprised by the fact that he's increasing the amount of bullets he had for his Spirit Gun. "

" 'Ke, wanna cause wanton destruction in the name of a distraction so Ranma can rescue Kimiko and Clay? " Usagi calls out.

" You had me at wanton destruction. " Yusuke states.

" Let's do this. " Raimundo says.

Jack, unlike the others, has a very well refined Chaos sense, and so he heads for Sarayashiki to hang out with Atsuko, Yusuke's mom. Atsuko, when not on a bender, had basically adopted him, letting him vent to her. Jack refrained from drinking mortal level spirits, but he did create some bots to clean the place up for her.

Raimundo is cackling almost evilly, " Sword of the Storm! "

Usagi is being held to his side with his left arm, and she holds a certain Shen Gong Wu aloft, " Eye of Dashi! "

Yusuke was on the ground, beating down all comers as they come out. Katnappe is dealt with immediately with a vicious punch. Yusuke was an equal opportunity fighter when it came to fighting, he may pull his punch a fraction in spars with Kimiko and Usagi, but any other female he fought with full force. Tubbimura admittedly gives him some problems, but he had heard about the surprisingly spry for his size ninja from Raimundo, and slams a Spirit Gun into him, and then using his Chi to increase his strength, rams his foot south of the border on Tubbimura, Yusuke fought dirty, or not at all.

Wind and Lightning combine to form a formidable force, one that tears through the walls easily, giving Ranma all the distraction he needed to get the others, and use the Golden Tiger Claws to get them out, before tossing said Claws up to Raimundo. Wuya is stunned she was outplayed so easily. She had yet to realize there was a reason why Jack had vacated after completing his part of the plan. He knew damned well Usagi and Raimundo would be called in, and between the two of them would beat whichever opponent they ended up taking on, or one would run a distraction while the other got the Wu. Raimundo makes the storm self-sustaining for another five minutes, before opening a portal up for them all to the monastery, then he takes himself and Usagi back to the Bailey Ranch, he had a competition to win the next day, and even better, his girl would be there to see him do it as well.

" Tarnation, where did you two go? "

" Four Shen Gong Wu activated at once, then we had to save Clay and Kimiko from the Heylin Side, Daddy Bailey. " Raimundo answers.

Usagi stretches, and yawns, " Spar with me, Dragón? "

" Yeah, I can do that. Diablo's at the arena already, and everyone appropriate has been warned to not mess with him. " Raimundo says.

" Ya know, ya didn't have to help us out, Raimundo. " Daddy Bailey states.

" Abuela would skin me alive if I didn't. Plus, I get to barrel race again, and put your own horses through their paces. " Raimundo says.

Usagi grins, " He also likes the fact that he gets me mostly to himself while we're here. "

" Hey, Conejita, you're enjoying it too. " Raimundo ripostes in good nature.

" Never said I wasn't, Dragón. " Usagi points out.

" Conejita traviesa(Wicked bunny). " Raimundo quips back.

She smirks at him, and immediately sweeps him off his feet, making use of her element to augment her speed. Raimundo picks himself up with his element, and gives chase. Mrs. Bailey laughs merrily at the sight, " They're good for each other. "

Usagi keeps ahead of him, barely, until they're isolated, and then spins aside to dodge him. Raimundo quirks an eyebrow at her, and Usagi tosses her head, while cocking her hips. Raimundo lowers himself to the ground, closing the distance between them, " You're playing a dangerous game, Conejita. " Raimundo warns her.

" Tranquilo, mi Dragón, no más juegos por ahora(At ease, my dragon, no more games for now). " Usagi murmurs just as his arms close around her, nestling into him, the closer she got to having to go back to Juuban, the more on edge she ended up.

It was only when his arms closed around her that her emotions got through his own storming emotions, and he pulls her to himself tighter, " Necesitas hablar mas. No hace bien embotellar todo, mi Conejita(You need to talk to me. You have to stop bottling it all up, my bunny). "

Usagi sighs, " I'm still not used to people actually caring about how I'm feeling. I'm used to having to get through it all on my own. I learned not to ask for help, because I wouldn't get it, Dragón. "

Raimundo curses her parents internally once again, " I know, Conejita. I will not leave you willingly. "

" I know that, Dragón. It's just hard to overcome years worth of conditioning, and negative reinforcement. "

" How long, Conejita? " Raimundo asks her.

Usagi winces, " Emotional, or otherwise? "

Raimundo stills, an emotionally abused empath was bad enough. A physically and emotionally abused empath? " ¡Mierda!(Fuck)! Conejita…"

Usagi doesn't resist when he swings her up, the blonde had consciously blocked out the physical abuse she suffered from, that healed up far faster than the emotional and psychological abuse she was subjected to, " How did you block this from me? "

Usagi sighs, " I heal fast, I always have, physical pain doesn't even phase me anymore. It was the emotions behind the strikes, what was said that did the real damage, mi Dragón. There's no way I could prove physical abuse, and because Earth's gravity is stronger than the Moon's I have numerous Klutz attacks, you've seen that for yourself, so any bruises..."

" Were written off as the result of another klutz attack, " Raimundo finishes for her, his hold becoming gentle, protective, and most especially loving. He settles them in another tree, just cradling her in his arms.

" Pretty much, I had almost given up when Master Fung chose me as the Lightning Dragon. Sure, I was the Heiress of the Albarn line, but I was just existing, until you blew into my life, helped me to have fun again, to smile and really mean it. If I hadn't met you, hadn't been chosen by Master Fung...I'd surrender to what Bitchenity wants me to do, I'd marry Endymion, because I wouldn't have any fight left in me, no reason to live. "

Raimundo sighs, " No one ever really stood up for me until you. You get me, you understand why I can't just do something in a certain way, I have to do it my own way. Abuela and Carmenita, they do understand, at least enough to realize that trying to hold me down just makes me fight all the harder to be released. "

" I understand all too well. " Usagi murmurs, just letting his power wrap around her. She didn't need to be strong right now. She lets her masks drop, -Full access to see the extent of the abuse I suffered, Dragón.-

Raimundo inhales deeply, before exhaling, and allowing himself to follow the telepathic link. He felt sick in soul when he was done, he had wondered about the scar on her left shoulder, now he knew how she had gotten that. One of her parents had thrown a meat cleaver at her, and damn near removed her left arm from her body. When she was three! He lets the tears come, he couldn't let this poison him. Usagi had run out of tears for herself long ago, having learned, the hard way, crying helped nothing. The fact that he could cry over what happened to her stunned the blonde. She didn't really see why he felt the need to, and that was what just about destroyed Raimundo. He'd known she was damaged, but not to this extent. Her own life meant nothing to her!

" Tenes que prometerme que haras todo lo posible para vivir a mi lado!(You have to promise me that if at all possible you will come back to me)! " Raimundo murmurs.

Usagi can feel the emotions behind that fervent exclamation, fear, desperation, terror...all at the mere thought of losing her. She'd forgotten the bond went both ways, losing her, it would destroy Raimundo more thoroughly than anything else could. Her life may not be precious to herself, but it was, to Raimundo. " Sólo, y siempre para ti, mi Dragón(Only, and always for you, my dragon). "

Raimundo's pulse triple times it as he hears those words. That was the closest either of them had ever come to confessing their deepest, truest feelings for each other. " Recordalo, por favor(Just remember that, please). "

Usagi tips his face to meet her eyes, " I will, Dragón. Just give me time to unlearn bad habits. The bond is helping more than you realize, your childhood may have been rough, but you know your family loves you. Until recently I didn't even know Yusuke was related to me, so I only had baa-chan. "

Raimundo blinks, " How so? "

" The bond gives me a direct line of access to your thoughts, and emotions, forcing me to face some hard truths about myself. To remember the other half of our bond. You're healing me more than you can really notice just by being you, Dragón. " Usagi tells him, " Pull yourself together, I have fangirls to make jealous, and a claim to quite thoroughly stake. "

" Just what are you going to be wearing tomorrow, Conejita? " Raimundo asks her.

Usagi grins, " Oh, something that will have every male jealous of you, and your fangirls, which I know will be present, your darling cousin Alejandra leaked that news before Jack turned his attentions onto her, will be mourning their loss, while shooting me death glares, either for claiming you, or looking better than them, maybe even both. "

" You're going to be wearing gray in some form, aren't you? "

" I always am, even when it seems as though I'm not, Dragón. " Usagi states.

Raimundo groans, " Conejita, please, I have a vivid enough imagination. "

" Had you seen what I was brought in Paris you'd really have some fuel for the fire. " Usagi tells him.

The Brazilian buries his face in her neck, inhaling deeply, her scent was always able to calm him, even from rioting hormones. He still hadn't quite pinned down her personal scent. He knew there was lavender, chorizo, and what he would swear was Amazonian Water Lily as well. That was all he could identify in her scent so far. All he knew was it soothed him like nothing else could. " Conejita traviesa(Wicked bunny). " he murmurs into her neck, his lips ghosting against her skin.

Usagi's head tips to the side as ghost kisses are trailed down her neck, and onto her left shoulder. The featherlight touches surprising her even as she slowly melts into Raimundo. His left hand just barely skims up and down her right side. Lust wasn't in control right now, love was, and Raimundo was going to show her that touch could be gentle as well, without going against his self-imposed limits.

When dawn comes Raimundo curses even as he wakes up, he did appreciate the fact that they that Clay's parents let them sleep in the same room, and bed. He slips out of bed, and leaves the Sword of the Storm with her. Since he kept that Wu with him all the time it would feel the most like him, " Deséame suerte, mi Conejita(Wish me luck, my bunny). " He murmurs, brushing a kiss across her temples, before getting ready for the day. She'd be coming later with Mrs. Bailey, which meant the first time he saw her outfit would potentially be in the winner's circle.

When he arrives at the arena he chuckles, " I warned you idiotas not to mess with Diablo, didn't I?

Diablo snorts, and tosses his head, before he hears his master, and he neighs softly as Raimundo approaches, butting his head against his master's chest, " That's my badass stallion. Recorda, tenemos que ganar asi mi Conejita reclama publicamente, caballo loco(Remember, we have to win so my bunny can make her claim well known, you cantankerous stallion). "

Diablo whickers, he wouldn't let his master down, " Where's your tack? " one of the workers asks.

Raimundo frowns, " I only use a bitless bridle on Diablo, I've raised and trained him from a foal. "

" Will he take a bosal hackamore? " another asks.

" If I put it on him. You have been feeding him clover hay, right? " Raimundo demands.

" Easy, Daddy Bailey made your specifications well known, lad. "

Raimundo takes in the newcomer to the conversation, " I take it you're in charge of things around here? "

" Having a Latin America Junior Champion competing is no joke, but why are you competing? "

" Mostly so I can win, and have my girlfriend claim me publicly, and get those barracudas knowns as fangirls to back off, stupid cousin. " Raimundo deadpans, " Diablo responds to my touch more than anything, and he's a competitive bastard. He's not going to allow some other stallion to beat him as long as he has breath in his body. "

Raimundo thoroughly checks his mount, he knew his horse, quite well. Closer to time for the rodeo to start Mrs. Bailey, and Usagi make their way through the stands. Usagi has on a dark gray, and light gray plaid patterned, short sleeved, looked like flannel, but wasn't shirt that hugged her bosom, black denim jeans that looked like she had been poured into them, gray cowgirl boots, with swirling silver designs that resembled the wind when drawn, her blonde hair was in a single braid, wrapped up into a bun, with a silver cowgirl hat rimmed with black on her head. She turned several heads as she follows Mrs. Bailey through the stands, at the same time, backstage Raimundo has the inexplicable urge to glare at several idiots. Completing Usagi's outfit was the locket, and bunny earrings Raimundo had given her.

Usagi has to admit she loves the atmosphere as the rodeo goes on, the different events all have their high points, though her eyes zero in on Raimundo when he charges into the arena on Diablo. He had thoroughly explained the event to her, and the time to beat was 13:89. Diablo knows the cloverleaf pattern well, and hugs the barrels just right, keeping his speed up the whole time, and Raimundo controlled him with his legs. The crowd is stunned into silence when Raimundo's time is announced, with all the barrels still standing at 13:69, the timing was in the hundredths which meant Raimundo and Diablo kicked some serious ass, and best of all, Diablo had tested clean, which meant no one could be bitchy, and contest Raimundo's victory. Raimundo's victory whoop, along with Diablo's triumphant scream can be heard over the crowd.

Usagi pounced the very second after he accepted his winnings, and trophy, getting to him before his fangirls, and she could feel the disbelief among the male population that was around her age that she was already taken. Raimundo has just enough time to take in her outfit before he finds himself pulled into a kiss that would have his mother calling him, and asking when she could meet his girlfriend. At the moment, he didn't care, he had the single best looking girl in the whole stadium kissing him, and he was literally supporting all of her weight as she kissed him. Best day in his entire life so far, and this day would only be topped by very few others, when Usagi agrees to marry him, the first time he becomes a father, and his actual wedding day.

When she finally breaks off the kiss Raimundo smiles widely, " You're right, I am the envy of every guy here, Mi Conejita. "

Every male in the general vicinity takes one step back, the kid may be young, but he was fully prepared to go to war to keep his girl. No true cowboy would ever even dream of poaching from another cowboy. Lad had proven he had the spirit of a true cowboy, and his horse was a cut above the rest, that was for sure.

Monastery:

" Guys, Raimundo won his event! " Kimiko calls out.

" Whooee, that's cause for a celebration. " Clay states.

" Indeed, our fellow dragon had proven himself in this field of combat. " Omi says.

Jermaine watches the replay on Kimiko's laptop, " Dawg's got mad skills, and one beauty of a horse. "

Percy cocks his head to the side, " His horse doesn't need to be so arrogant about his victory, while swearing like Ranma at the thought of a new fiancée. "

" Wait, you understand horses? " Kimiko asks Percy.

" Yeah, why? " Percy asks, he could also control water as well as Omi, and not get wet if he didn't want. He also couldn't drown either.

" Oh, just a very good idea on whom your father is, that's all. " Kimiko says, Raimundo and Usagi had explained that Percy had to be claimed by his father. He could know he was a demigod, train up his powers, mind, and ability to fight, but his father had to claim him.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, Xiaolin Showdown, Ranma Saotome, Percy Jackson, or Yu Yu Hakusho.