THE END IS HERE!

I want to sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, thank all of you who have stuck with me through the years. It's been a rocky road with this story. There were a few years where this story wasn't a priority of mine, but all of you lovely reviewers and those who messaged me privately encouraged me to look at this story from a different angle in order to make it the story you guys deserve. I really hope you all enjoy this final chapter, and again, thank you for all of your support!

There is a poll on my page where I am taking suggestions on which project I should work on next. If you wouldn't care, check out my ideas and cast a vote!

I love you all so very much!

Happy Writing!

xTAx

X

"I can't believe it. Today is the day. I mean, I've known today was the day for over a year, so I don't see why it's coming as a shock to me, but it's actually here. Today. Is. The. Day."

"Breathe, Chloe!" Kimiko grabbed her pacing friend by the shoulders. Chloe's eyes were wild and her breath shallow. The girls were in the basement of the small church adding the finishing touches to their ensembles. Jessie sat in the corner, her hair being styled and hating every second of it. Chloe was already primed and looked absolutely beautiful. Her blond hair was curled and pinned in a nineteen-twenties style arrangement that framed her face like a halo. Her makeup was all browns and blush, making her face look naturally blemish-less. Her gown looked more like an extension of herself than a piece of cloth. The ivory dress was beaded at her torso and blended into a laced A-line skirt. "Everything is right on schedule, you are the vision of beauty, and the guests are making their way to the chapel. Just relax. This day is going to be perfect."

"What if I trip walking down the aisle? What if I get in there and Clay's not there? What if they give me vanilla cake instead of strawberry!?" Her breathing became rapid again.

Kimiko forced Chloe to an armchair, retrieving a champagne flute from the side table and forcing her friend to drink its contents. "None of those things are going to happen. You've been planning this wedding for forever, and everything is going to be perfect."

Chloe drank the champagne in one gulp, reaching it to Kimiko for a refill. "I know, I know. I just can't stop myself from imagining every possible thing that could go wrong."

"If you don't stop that whining, I'll personally feed you vanilla cake," Jessie added, her glare less intimidating beneath painted lashes.

Chloe nodded, sipping on her second glass of champagne. "I just want this day to be everything Clay deserves," she stared down at her drink.

"Hey," Kimiko sunk to her knees, forcing Chloe's eyes to meet hers. "The only thing Clay has ever wanted is to marry you. As long as you make it down that aisle and say 'I do,' he will be the happiest man in the world."

Chloe smiled, taking Kimiko's hand in hers. "I really wish you could just stay here forever."

Kimiko smiled warmly. She was spared from a reply when a soft knock came to the door. An older man, who Chloe had earlier introduced as her father, peered through the thin crack in the door, a brilliant smile spread across his face. "It's time. Are you ready, sweetheart?"

Chloe took a deep breath, standing confidently in her four inch heels. "I've never been more ready for anything."

X

The wedding went by without a hitch. Clay shed a tear as his beautiful bride walked toward him, their vows were heartfelt and touching, and Raimundo had to nudge Omi a few times to remind him to keep his emotions in check. As the couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife, the church erupted into applause and cheers. Kimiko could feel Raimundo's eyes on her as the organ began to play and the party made their way to the covered shelter outside. The wooden beams were covered in spiraled lights and large sheer draperies hung from the tented ceiling. Tall sunflowers and opaque stones adorned the lace covered tables that surrounded the open, square dance floor. Kimiko wanted to tell Chloe how beautiful everything looked, but she was too infatuated with her now husband, never seeming to take her eyes off of him.

Kimiko found a table with Raimundo, Omi, and Jack, but her attention kept drifting to the newlywed couple. Never in her life had she seen two people so in love, so at peace next to one another. It reminded her of a story her papa use to tell her, how God took one soul and divided it into two people, dooming humans to spend their days searching for their other half. Kimiko had never really believed in the tale, but seeing the way Chloe and Clay looked at each other, the legend didn't seem so ridiculous after all.

The night went by in a blur. There was food, dancing, and plenty of drinking. Raimundo gave the perfect Best Man speech, using a combination of humor and heart. Kimiko's speech was mostly sentimental and endearing, telling stories of her and Clay as children and describing her friendship with Chloe as "unlike anything she had ever had before".

As the moon climbed higher into the sky, the crowd started thinning as people made their way to the bride and groom, giving them their best wishes, and sauntering out the door slightly more unsteady than they walked in. Kimiko sat at a table alone, her head resting tiredly in her hand. She smiled in Clay's direction, watching as he beamed down at his new wife, his hand never leaving her waist. Never had she seen two people more happy and in love.

She look away and saw Raimundo near the far side of the room, listening to Omi spin what was undoubtedly a most fascinating tale. His tie was loose around his neck, and his tux jacket had long been removed. He seemed to feel her gaze, and he quickly diverted Omi's attention to Jack before making his way toward her. "It was definitely a mistake teaching Omi how to drink."

She laughed, sitting up straighter, "it was better us than Dojo introducing him to Master Fung's aged goat milk."

Raimundo puckered his face, recalling the night when the two fifteen year olds had snuck into Master Fung's room and found what they thought was rice liquor. "Man, that shit was nasty."

"It did the trick, though," Kimiko laughed, remembering the two of them passed out on the kitchen floor surrounded by the mess of their first drunken experience.

"Why we were ever chosen to help save the world is beyond me," Raimundo grinned. The song changed keys, and the few couples that were left grabbed their loved ones and took to the dance floor. Clay and Chloe were the first among them, holding each other so close that it would be easy to confuse them as one person. Raimundo smiled down at her, extending his hand. Wordlessly, she took it, letting him lead her onto the dance floor.

Unlike the night at the club, the two held each other tenderly, swinging softly to the ballad the band began to sing. For the longest time, they danced in silence, his hand holding her small fingers while the other lie secure on her waist. Her head rested against his shoulder, her heartbeat synchronizing with his. The acoustic guitar played a soft melody, while the singer's harsh voice sang soft and tender lyrics.

"What happens when we leave here?" Raimundo whispered in her hair.

Kimiko kept her head on his shoulder, looking out over the people around them. "I'm going back to Clay's. I volunteered to watch their house while they're on their honeymoon."

"And after that?"

Kimiko was silent. She didn't have a plan. She had no home to go back to in Japan, and she was too ashamed to ask her papa for help. She could go back to the temple, but she wasn't sure she was ready to fully commit herself to the Xiaolin life again. And though Chloe expressed her excitement at the prospect of Kimiko staying in Texas, she knew that a newlywed household only had room for two occupants. "I have no idea."

Raimundo squeezed her hand, "come to Brazil."

She raised her head to meet his eyes. They were sincere, like the suggestion was the most reasonable thing he could imagine. "Are you sure?" she stammered. "You don't have to-"

"I want you to come live with me," he said simply. The music shifted to a more upbeat song with a heavy bass rhythm. The couples around them broke apart, quickening their footsteps to accommodate the new sound. Raimundo and Kimiko stayed in their close embrace, enveloped in a world entirely their own. "I know it may seem a little insane, but I think we can both agree that these past few weeks have been too. Even if you're not ready for something romantic, or if you have no interest in starting anything, I just want to make sure you're safe. You can stay with me until you're ready to go wherever you want or-."

Kimiko leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on Raimundo's lips. It didn't take long before he returned her affection, pulling her closer. As they parted, Kimiko smiled up at him with a genuine smile, "yes, Raimundo Pedrosa, I will move in with you."

His grin spread across his entire face, and he leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "Our plane leaves tonight at midnight."

"I don't have the money for a ticket."

"It's already been purchased," he winked at her, and she couldn't help but giggle.

"So, you just assumed I would say yes?"

"What can I say? Women can't resist my charm," he grinned.

Kimiko rolled her eyes, but smiled all the same. "I have to go to Clay's first. I need to get my things and see if Jessie will take care of the house while they're gone."

Raimundo nodded. "I'm going to make sure everything is taken care of here before I leave. I'll meet you at the airport-by the fountain?"

Kimiko couldn't contain her smile, "it's a date."

X

Kimiko pulled up to the empty house in Chloe's Camry. It felt unusual to see the house so lifeless, aglow with nothing but the light from the full moon. She walked up the squeaky steps, unlocking the door with the key on Chloe's pink key ring. She had already talked to Jessie, who agreed that she would be there in the morning to care for the cattle and make sure everything was in order with the house. She felt guilty for leaving without saying goodbye to Chloe or Clay, but she thought they would understand.

She walked into the dark living room, immediately turning on the lamp on the side table. The house was far too quiet to be Clay's, she thought sadly. She wished she could have another week with all of her friends together again, huddled on the small couch laughing and sharing old stories. She walked around the couch and placed the car keys on the table next to a note with directions for Jessie before turning to make her way toward the stairs.

"Kimiko."

She inhaled sharply, immediately recognizing the voice. She turned around as calmly as she could, trying to suppress her racing heartbeat. Kenji stood in the shadows of the kitchen, the moonlight giving just enough light to make out his face. Kimiko forced herself to stand tall, "what are you doing here, Kenji?"

He walked forward into the light, his dark jacket framing his shoulders, his hands secured in its pockets. He stared at her intensely, and she stared right back at him. "I'm not going with you," she finally said after not getting an answer. She turned to maintain eye contact as he walked around the couch toward her. "We are over. You have no power over me anymore."

"We are over? Is that what you really believe?" His dark eyes were dilated and his mouth was curled into a smirk. Normally this sight would send shivers down Kimiko's spine, but she willed herself to remain strong.

"It's what I know. I'm not going back to Tokyo, and I have no intentions on ever seeing you again."

"So, what is your plan then? Are you going to stay here in America? Your friends may like you now, but once you're no longer their pitiful little project, they'll grow tired of your company. You'll be nothing more than a nuisance, a lonely girl who long overstays her welcome. Or perhaps you are going to Brazil," his grin grew more sinister as he released a small chuckle, taking another step toward her. "Do you think anyone could ever truly love jagged pieces of a woman? He wants nothing more than the memory of you. Instead, all he will ever see is me: me kissing you, touching you, making you weep for my love. It won't be long before he begins making the same demands of you as I did."

"You're wrong," she spoke calmly, refusing to retreat as he came ever closer to her despite the feeling in her stomach. "He is nothing like you. He would never hurt me like you have. Raimundo is a man, and you are nothing but a scared, pathetic little boy." She knew her words were dangerous. She knew that Kenji had not come to Clay's tonight with intentions of sweet talking her back into his arms. She was not afraid, however. She needed to make a stand for herself; she needed to leave this world with the dignity and courage worthy of a Xiaolin Dragon.

Kenji removed his hand from his jacket pocket, revealing a small, black pistol. "Get on your knees," his voice was low and dark as he hovered a few inches above her face.

Kimiko slowed her breathing, calling upon the forces of her element, pleading for the strength that the fire commanded. "No."

He wrapped his hand around her throat, squeezing with all the strength he could muster. "I said get on your knees." He shoved her to the ground, standing over top of her with his hand still on her throat. "I want you to die the same way you lived: like a cowering little whore." He leaned in close to her face, pressing his lips against her ear. "If I can't have you, then no one can ever again."

Kimiko gasped for breath, feeling her windpipe collapsing beneath his palm. In that moment, everything flashed before her. The last few months of her life, all the misery and pain she endured, and the years before that, when she had friends who turned into family and a purpose beyond the scope of her every day existence. She called to the Xiaolin Dragon of Fire. I'm so sorry, she said to her younger self, a girl who had never known pain and never deserved to. A girl who's destiny was bigger than herself. A girl who refused to let the fire inside of her go out.

She wrapped her fingers around Kenji's wrist, and suddenly, her lungs began to find air again. As she struggled to catch her breath, she heard Kenji cursing, and looked to find him cradling his smoking wrist. He looked at her with wide eyes, "what the hell was that?!" Kimiko rose slowly, feeling the electricity course through her veins. Now it was her turn to approach him threateningly. Small flames begin to ignite from her chest, sending embers in spirals down her arms, collecting into flames which kissed the palm of her hands. Kenji stared agape as he began to back away from her. "What the hell are you?"

"I am the Xiaolin Dragon of Fire." She shot a small flame which struck his shoulder, just small enough to leave a sizable welt. He hissed in pain, continuing to retreat, but she persisted. "I have trained for years to fulfill the path chosen for me: to protect the world from darkness." She shot another ember, this time at his thigh. "I may have lost my way to weakness, but I will never again allow anyone to control me." She sent a final one to his stomach, causing him to fall to his knees. She stood over him, knowing that she could easily end his life right there. She would be completely free, never again having to look over her shoulder or lie awake at night wondering if he was coming back for her. All of her problems would disappear.

With one final breath, she sent her whole body into flames, casting a vibrant orange glow that sent the rest of her form into shadow. Her heart beat rapidly as she felt the heat encompass her form. Never before had she felt so powerful.

"You will walk out of this house, and I will never see you again."

And with that, Kenji ran out of her life for the last time.

X

Kimiko ran through the terminals as fast as she could. Her bare feet hit the tile with an audible smack, and her luggage wheels struggled to keep up with her pace. Her encounter with Kenji has left her less time to get to the airport and get through security. People cursed after her as she pushed past them on the motorized walkways. With each step she grew more and more anxious. The announcements overhead urged passengers to board flight 115; she was afraid that they would miss their flight, or worse that Raimundo would leave without her.

She rounded one last corner and breathed a sigh of relief. Raimundo was leaning against the fountain still wearing his tuxedo from the wedding, looking more worried than impatient. Kimiko felt a kick in her stomach at the sight of him. This was it: this was the first step in changing the rest of her life. He was her future now, a future that until a few weeks ago she didn't know was possible. Kenji was gone and no longer had any power over her. She had her fire back, her friends at her side, and a man waiting for her by a beautiful fountain in a Texas airport. There wasn't anything more she could have asked for.

He felt her gaze and straightened at the sight of her, his smile filling his entire face. She couldn't help but smile back with the same intensity. She slowed her steps as she approached him, and he met her half way. "I have to admit, I was getting nervous that you had changed your mind." As he came closer, his face grew more troubled. He reached his hand forward, gently touching the side of her neck, his face darkening. "What happened?"

"It doesn't matter." She removed his hand and squeezed it tightly, giving him a reassuring smile. "It's all over now."

Raimundo looked hesitant, obviously not happy about not having the details, but smiled none the less, bringing her hand to his lips. The woman overhead announced the last boarding of Flight 115. "Are you ready?"

She intertwined her fingers in his. "Let's go home."