--Chapter XIV--

Disclaimers: I don't own Xiaolin Showdown.

A/N: This is the last chapter, so I'd like to say a humongous THANK YOU to my reviewers! You guys cheered me up and kept supporting me even if I've been having writer's block and late updates… I'm so sorry… Honestly and truly, I am. So, I hope that you would like this last chapter, and your reviews are greatly appreciated. :)

Ben could not believe his ears. After all he had risked, after all he had put at stake for her… and all she had to say was that she couldn't stay?

He felt a surge of energy and emotion pulse through his body. He couldn't identify it at first, but he felt… strong anger. Angry at himself, and… angry at the person sitting across him at that very moment…

He was lost in rage. He was screaming inwardly, like a crazed maniac. Nothing made sense to him anymore.

"Kimiko, get out of here… now… Before I blow up… I'm telling you…" He said in a frightful whisper. He was clenching his fists, barely able to move.

"What?"

"I said, GET OUT OF HERE. I'm going to explode in a few moments, and I can't let you see me like this." He said as calmly as he could. It was only a few moments, a few seconds…

Kimiko stood up and backed away slowly. Come on! Why can't you move any faster, damn it! Ben thought. He could feel the anger and blood pulsing through his veins… capillaries… making its way to his heart…

"Hey! What the hell is going on here!" the café owner was saying, getting into the scene. He had noticed Ben's strange and threatening behavior, and wanted to know what the trouble was.

"I'm sorry sir, it's just that he—" Kimiko could not finish her sentence because Ben was already glaring at her. She knew he wasn't sane anymore.

The café owner tensed up as he saw the expression on Kimiko's face. "Call the police, hurry." He said to Kimiko discreetly.

Ben was going crazy. He picked up a table with all his strength and lifted it over his shoulders. He felt that he just had to break something. With immense force and power, he brought it down to the floor, destroying the thick wood and cracking the table in the middle.

Kimiko used her cell phone to contact the police officers to come immediately. After speaking to a few officers, she hung up and told the owner, "There, sir, I asked the police to come here."

"Okay. Now we have to calm the young man down." He was referring to Ben, who was continually becoming hysterical and hard to control.

"I'm sorry, sir, I have to go. I am so sorry about your table." Kimiko said in humble apology.

"It's okay. But are you sure you cannot stay longer to console your boyfriend?"

Kimiko felt another pain surge through her heart. "He's not my boyfriend, sir. I really have to go."

"Okay then. I hope you enjoyed your stay. I'll handle this."

"Okay, thank you so much."

She walked briskly down the street, getting farther away from the café, and thought about the disturbance she caused. She reflected on how much more destructive her relationship with Ben could have been if it had continued. Now she had something else to do, something much harder than listening to Ben confess his feelings to her.

She had to tell Raimundo she loved him.

Raimundo checked his watch. It was late. Almost time to leave the Temple. He thought of how much he would miss Master Fung, Clay, Omi, Dojo, and most especially Kimiko. They had all been so good to him. He left them each an individual note.

He was sad to find out that Kimiko was not home. He could not say goodbye to her, and yet he felt that it would be easier to let him go if he did not say his final goodbyes.

He thought of the reason behind why he was leaving the Temple. He decided to go back to Brazil, and live as an ordinary teenager again. He wanted that life back. But why was it paining him so much?

Face it, Rai. The real reason why you are leaving is because of Kimiko. And you can't even say your final goodbye to her. He told himself.

Raimundo tried to convince himself that he was doing this for a greater cause. He could not stay here and keep hindering Kimiko from her relationship with Ben. The bet with Ben was a mistake. He saw that now.

He knew why Ben wanted to take on the bet in the first place. Ben was confident that he would win, confident that he would get Kimiko's heart and keep it for his own. How lucky he was.

This was not just about leaving town, as their bet had implied upon the both of them. This was about love. Raimundo loved Kimiko enough to leave her alone with her life and with Ben, who was the rightful winner.

He sighed. It was time to leave, and to say goodbye to everyone he held close to his heart. Deep inside, he knew he had no courage to do it. They all meant so much to him. Kimiko, wherever you are right now, even if you are kissing Ben and making up with him… I hope that you will always be all right, and that you would be happy with your life at present. He thought finally, and made up his mind to leave. He picked up his suitcases, and came out of the front door.

There he was. She stared bluntly through the darkness. She had just come from the café, and her vision was being obscured by the dark night.

She couldn't feel her tongue forming the words, "Raimundo!" as she rushed to him and flung her arms around him.

"Whoa, it's okay, Kim. What's the matter?" she heard him say.

"Oh, Raimundo. If you only knew… But first, I have to say that I was out because I was with Ben."

"Ben? Well then… why are you here now?"

"It's a long story." She said impatiently. She was running out of breath.

"Tell me."

"He had to tell me something… but it doesn't matter now, because, Raimundo, I have something important to tell you… And I can't believe I never realized it, after so long—"

"Okay. What is it?"

"Raimundo, I love you."

Raimundo was speechless. He didn't know what to say. The words sank into his mind. And at last, he found the power to speak. "You… love me?"

"Yes, I do. I've been so blind… All this time, I've loved you. I couldn't admit it to myself, but today, I realized…"

Raimundo cut her short by putting his arms around her and wrapping her in a passionate kiss. The kiss enraptured them so, that they never noticed the time of the night, and Kimiko never noticed Raimundo's suitcases on the ground.

Epilogue

"Raimundo… I can't hold on much longer."

"Well just try."

"Oh come on…"

Raimundo and Kimiko were playing a fighting game on PS2. Kimiko knew she was going to lose, but she needed to hold on for a few more moments. She just couldn't give in to her boyfriend.

YOU WIN flashed on the screen. "Hah! Victory is mine!" Raimundo cheered.

Kimiko came near him and gently kissed him on the cheek. "Well, congratulations."

"Awww. You're not the sore loser tonight, huh, Kim?"

"No I'm not. I love you, Rai."

"Thanks. I love you too, Kim."

End of Epilogue.

A/N: Yes, it's finally done… hehe. Well I hope you guys enjoyed reading it. :) Hope to see you in my future Xiaolin fics, God bless to all and see you:)