A/N: I apologize for the lateness. I had my cousins wedding and was stuck in a car for thirteen hours with my annoying siblings. the wedding was great though! Also, I had to escape the angry mob of reviewers! They keep chasing me (looks around nervously) I've managed to escape for now (hears footsteps) OH NO! THEY'RE BACK!! (runs away only to be chased by mob) AHHH!

So, review replies! (skip to next A/N or locate your name like always!)

Aria Pedrosa: ... yes, it's kinda sad you're dancing over that fact. and lol, I hadn't even realized the finger thing when i wrote it, I think i'll have to change it now... Ah, but is he really breaking his promise?? THAT has yet to be revealed... And yes, Rai does believe Chase because he's kind of desperate right now. You would also be in his position so don't blame poor Rai! Yeah, I LOVE long reviews because it tells me more about what the person thinks of my story, even if most of it is ranting! And give mee my ten million dollars!! (You were the first reply so hope it was easier to find!)

co426e: Yup, pretty screwy, and just wait, it'll get even more so. And thanks!

Dominosowner: you and me both!

wicca in training: OMI WILL BE HERE SOON! Patience is a virtue ya know! Oh, and thanks for the pie!!

windXSchick: (wipes away sweat) Phew, good to know you weren't in the angry mob. And why'd I kill him? Well, it had to be done. Sorry. And don't worry, EVERYTHING will work out exactly as planned... (yet that still gives away no spoilers because you don't know what's planned! man, I'm one evil chick!)

Inu Rose Chan: Yup, shocked everyone else to. lol, and thanks.

thering66: Nope, Clay's not that kinda person. The seven-year-old boy thing was a twist even I didn't anticipate though.

Raimundoroks: glad to know!

nolapeep: okie-dokie!

Ondori-Naramaki: At least you were close though! AHH! Don't kill me wih the pitchfork and torch! (cowards under a rock) lol, I didn't know I had the guts to do it either! (seriously!) No, Rai learning to use a dagger is a good thing (covers mouth) Oh no! Small spoiler! Oh well, I SHALL REVEAL NOTHING ELSE! and you catch on quick girl! I actually state that in this chapter. Alrighty Ondo (three times baby!) thanks for making your 'anonymous' sister review! even though she did groan because you wrote that! lol!

Luiz4200: think of it like this. He's desperate! And update granted!

flowercutegirl: thanks! And Fung never did nothing to me, I just needed someone to kill off and he was sitting there basically asking for it. lol, that's definitely a first to be heard! well, no, Omi is not the king sorry, but good guess!

fantasticly-anonymous: THANK YOU! Finally someone who will not chase me with a pitchfork because of Fung! (gives virtual hug!) And evil rocks girl! Thanks again and i will be! (by the way, when you get your pitchfork back from the cleaners can I borrow it? I need something to defend myself against all these angry reviewers! runs away from angry mob "back! back I tell you! BACK!" Now I must continue running! AHH! Save me!)

miniku: (waves hand in front of face) did you wake up yet?

A/N: ON WITH THE CHAPTER FOR I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY HERE! (continues to run from mob) SAVE ME!!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot (and soon, hopefully, a pitchfork to defend myself from the mob with)

Chapter 21

I opened my eyes slowly, only to squeeze them shut once again due to a pounding headache. I must have drifted off to sleep without even realizing it. The room was dark, which meant it was nighttime already. Wow, had I actually slept that long? Looking to my left, I saw Clay sleeping in his bed and a bunch of young children sleeping around my bed on the ground. Guess I missed teaching the lesson tonight…

Stifling a yawn, I tiptoed out of bed, going through my usual routine of randomly picking three kids to give my bed to. Once that was complete, I headed towards the bathroom to splash some water on my face.

For the first time since the Tohomiko's, I looked into a mirror that hung on the wall. I tend to try and avoid them at all costs, but I couldn't keep my eyes from wandering towards the silvery glass.

I remember when I looked into the mirror at the Tohomkos, I had seen a boy I didn't even recognize. He was alien to me then, as he is now. I didn't even recognize myself anymore.

My eyes seem to hold a permanent haunted look, and my skin had turned to a sickly white. My hair was limp and dull, and my face was thin.

Was this who I had become? This boy in the mirror? That wasn't me…

I wasn't me…

Stuff suddenly started to make a whole lot more sense.

I mean, how could I ever think of killing anyone? After I had promised Clay! What's wrong with me!? I actually thought about killing the king, and not only the king, but also a seven-year-old boy.

I want my freedom, but not even my freedom is worth an innocent life.

And at that moment it was like everything just clicked. I wasn't that boy in the mirror. That was who I had been. But no longer. Now, now I was myself again. I had said yes to training with Chase in a brief moment of weakness. He had me thinking there was no hope left, that I was alone and this was the only way.

But there is hope. There is always hope. And I would never be alone.

…Wait… I had agreed to… train with Chase…. To train…. and only… that… Oh my….

I never said I would kill anyone. Chase had said he would grant my freedom the day after the ball if I trained willingly with him.

I wouldn't have to kill anyone…

A ghost of a smile appeared on my face. I wouldn't break any of my promises. I wouldn't become a murderer. It seemed like Chase's own plan was now going to backfire on him.

I could have laughed I was so happy. All this time I've been worrying about nothing! I wish Clay were awake so I could tell him, or Jermaine, or Fung…

Oh… right… Fung wasn't alive anymore.

Surprisingly, I wasn't angry anymore about this, only sad. Before, every time I thought about what had happened, I felt anger and hate towards the person who caused his death, but now I just felt sad that Fung was no longer around. And I didn't even feel so sad because I realized that wherever Fung was, he was in a better place then here.

Maybe I've finally realized that death doesn't necessarily mean endings, but new beginnings. Someone had told me that at my mother's funeral. They said that a death just means a new life. When one life goes, a new one comes.

I'm not going to be sad about Fung anymore. He's better off now, and though I will never forget the kindness he showed me, I will not mourn him anymore.

He would have wanted that.

It's a new beginning. For Fung and for me. I've done some stupid things, made some stupid choices, but I'm done being someone else's puppet. I want the control. I want to be my own puppet master. Chase will not control me!

Not any more.

I looked into the mirror again and saw that something had changed in my eyes. Like they were shinning a little bit more, that the dull green had become a drop brighter. I looked more alive now.

They say eyes are windows into you soul and if that's true from now one my eyes are going to scream my message loud and clear:

I'm never going to give up.

I'm never going to surrender.

I'm never going to be destroyed.

I'm never going to let someone control me.

I'm never going to fade away.

And I'm never going to lose hope.

Nobody may have seen that before, but they will now. Everyone will know that I, Raimundo, haven't given up. That I would take a stand for not only myself, but for them as well.

I realized something else. When I had looked in the mirror after I beat up Colin and scared Alex, I had seen a monster clawing to come out, to be released and have control. That monster was my fear, my anger, my hate, all combined trying to consume me.

But now, that monster was gone.

Because I wasn't that person anymore.

Chase had told me once I had great power. And that I just had to use it.

For once he was right.

I had the power, I had the will, and I would use it. Just not the way he wanted me to. He wanted me to destroy, to kill. But I was going to create, to bring life.

And I wasn't going to aim small, I was going to free everyone. No one deserved to live the life of a slave. Nobody should be forced to serve another person simply for the fact that they aren't rich.

Everyone deserves a chance to live. Not just to survive, but to really live life and enjoy it.

I don't know how yet, but I was going to save everyone. Maybe it will take years and decades, maybe it won't be finished in my lifetime and others will have to continue for me, but I would do it.

I would free everyone. Even if it cost me my own life.

I took a deep breath, splashing some cold water on my face. It felt nice against my warm skin, but it was mostly symbolic for me.

I was washing away who I acted as, and I was become who I truly was.

I was me…

And I was done pretending.

I walked out of the bathroom, my head held higher, my body straighter. I felt better then I had in a long time. I felt like I was actually working towards something now, that my life would actually have some meaning now.

It was still nighttime, with at least another hour to go, so now would be an excellent time to sneak around and get some tools. I needed at least parchment and quills, along with some ink, to use for the lessons. And I could probably sneak some food from the kitchen if I was quiet.

I exited the servants quarters silently, shutting the door behind me. Creeping through the hallways had become second nature to me now due to all the times Clay and I snuck out for a meeting. I entered one of the abandoned studies and grabbed as much ink, parchment, and quills as I could find.

Running back to the servants quarters I dropped them off under my bed, growing stiff and tense when one of the kids yawned and woke up sleepily. They looked towards me and I put a finger to my lip signaling silence, then whispered, "Go back to sleep."

The child nodded, only semiconscious, and placed his head upon the bed, falling back into a fitful sleep quickly. I sighed in relief and snuck out of the room again.

This time I came to an extra guest room. There were a few blankets and pillows, much better quality then any of the ones we were given, and I also brought them back to the servants quarters. Luckily this time no one woke up.

Feeling venturous and daring, I headed towards the kitchen, using a small pin of Tanya's to unlock the door. Hearing the soft 'click', I pushed the door open, entering somewhere that I was really not supposed to be.

I started with the cabinets. If there was food that could be saved and not rot it would surely be here. Unfortunately, there was nothing there but some flour, sugar, and grains. But on the table there was a bowl of fresh fruit, which I eagerly snatched up.

'Click'. I froze. Someone had just closed the door.

I turned around slowly, basically paralyzed with fear, only to come face to face with a smug looking Chase. If I weren't so scared I would have punched him.

"I'm surprised at you Raimundo. Stealing? Hmm, maybe you are learning something from me after all."

I snarled at him. "Well, you stole this to start with, it's only fair I steal it back. And I'm not taking it for self gain like you do."

"No matter what you call it, it is still stealing. You managed to avoid all my guards very well." I didn't answer, so Chase kept talking, "That's why I chose you. Swift, cunning, silent. Almost all the skills needed to be a perfect assassin." A low growl escaped from my throat.

"I'm not going to kill anyone." I said. He raised an eyebrow.

"We'll see." There was a brief silence as I tried to think of what to say.

"How did you know I was here?" I finally asked, genuinely curious.

He let out a soft chuckle. "I know everything that happens in my house." Now it was my turn to laugh.

"Not everything."

"Oh? You think I don't know about you teaching all those little children how to write and read. That you've been stealing parchment and quills for quite a while now. That you have been joining secret meetings to plan an escape."

Okay, maybe he did know everything…

"Fine, so if you think you know it all why don't you have me killed like you had Fung? I had as much a part in the escape as he did!" I yelled angrily. It only angered me more to see he did not react the way I wished.

"Because you, Raimundo, are special. You don't know it yet, but you are more special then any regular slave here. I could have easily killed off your friend Clay or Jermaine instead of Fung, but he was a warning. Do not betray me."

I couldn't come up with anything to say. "I'm not going to let you win." I whispered.

He turned around to face the door, opening it easily enough. "But you see Raimundo, I already have." Then he was gone and I was left alone in the kitchen.

He might say he knows everything, and he might say he has already won, but he hasn't.

He may have won the battle tonight.

But the war has just begun.

A/N: Sorry for the shortness but...drum roll: bum bum bum bum...

YES! Rai's not angsting anymore! I actually do plan on keeping it this way for a while. I got sick of making him so miserable all the time. I figured that since he had such a horrible last chapter, I'll give him a good one now.

For those of you ho haven't guessed it, mirrors do things to Rai, they help him realize things. Keep that in mind because I plan on having one more mirror scene before the end.

And speaking of the end, it should be coming in about... well, I'm not exactly sure. It could be a good ten chapters, or just two more, depending on if I do in fact put in the twist I was planning to put in. But fear not, the best is yet to come (seriously!)

So, as tradition states, ONE REVIEW! Yup, just one! That's all I ask for people. ONE ONE ONE! (no, not 101, just 1!) Got it memorized? Good, now review!

(gasp) THE MOB IS BACK! BUT THEY SHOULD BE GONE NOW! I MADE RAI HAPPY...NO, PLEASE, MERCY! (runs far away) REVIEW (fades out due to fact authoress is now far away)