Moi-Moi: I feel like I have to offer a disclaimer here. This chapter contains a very controversial theme. While I love to have conversations with my readers, I would rather not open the can of worms that is this topic. I hope no one gets too offended by what a character says. Please remember that this is fiction and try not to take things too seriously. No matter your stance, I hope you can enjoy this chapter as well as the ones to come. I'm sorry in advance if you do become offended, but please don't leave any hurtful comments on this story, chapter or in my inbox. Thanks. :)
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If Chase had known what he was getting himself into... It probably wouldn't change much. This was a minor nuisance that was easily tolerable in the larger scheme of things. Chase shot Hitomi a dry look that she couldn't see because she had her back to him. "My eyes are much more developed and efficient than yours. I assure that you have not increased in size," Chase repeated. This past week, Hitomi had been convinced that she was finally starting to gain weight.
"Of course you would say that. But you know better than me. It's not like this is my body or anything," Hitomi replied sarcastically and rubbed her hands along her stomach with a frown.
"Did you think that you would not eventually begin to show?" Chase asked with a teasing tone.
Hitomi shot him a look over her shoulder. "Oh. So you're some sort of pregnancy professional now?" she asked him in a skeptical tone.
"I believe that this is one of the rare times that I am not a master at something," Chase replied with a smirk. "But, I do have a hunch that that's how pregnancy works."
Hitomi rolled her eyes at him with a small smile. "I am worried though," Hitomi said.
"About?"
"Well, not worried. More like concerned. I was reading this pregnancy book that I got from your library. Not sure why you had it, but I won't judge," Hitomi said before turning and walking over to where Chase was lounging on his bed. She crawled over the sheets towards him before stopping at his side. She smiled at Chase's dry look before saying, "According to that book, I'm twelve weeks along. But that didn't make any sense. But then I thought that it could be because of you."
"Oh? And what did I do?" Chase asked with a raised brow.
"Well, I was thinking that maybe this kid isn't one hundred percent human. You know?" Hitomi said in an unsure voice. Chase nodded once. "Is that alright?"
Chase raised a brow at her. Hitomi looked so unsure in this instant. She was obviously still worried that he would change his mind and revert back to hating the child. If only she knew... "My heir will be more powerful than any human without having to share in my curse. The child is already privileged," Chase answered. At Hitomi's relieved look, he continued, "Hopefully, the child takes after me. The world could do without another you."
"...You just had to ruin it. Didn't you?" Hitomi asked dryly. Chase smirked at her. "Before you can say anything else, it's time for bed."
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Chase had been sleeping soundly courtesy of a very pleasant dream involving his undisputed dominion over the world. Wuya and Hannibal were both locked away once again. Unsurprisingly, he ruled over the world with Hitomi at his side. But his dream persona was pleased by the appearance of a small child in her arms. He could see his amber eyes in the toddler who had been in Hitomi's arms. Just when the child had reached for him with a wide grin, Chase felt himself being pulled from the dredges of sleep.
"Chase, are you awake?"
"I am now," Chase replied in a low tone.
"I need to pee," Hitomi said to him.
Chase's nose wrinkled at this information. She found the strangest times to share unwarranted information. "You're telling me this because?" Chase hinted dryly.
"I tried to get up, but you wouldn't let me go," Hitomi pointed out and tried to pull away the arm that was wrapped around her waist. Chase released her quickly, thankful for the darkness that was effectively hiding his blush. As soon as he let go, Hitomi quickly dashed out of bed and towards the bathroom.
Chase sighed as he ran his hands over his face. That had been a very strange dream. While he was sure that he wanted Hitomi to remain at his side when he eventually took over the world, his plans had never included becoming too friendly with the child. Training it, molding it, and using its chi to feed his own, but never caring for it further than that.
When Hitomi exited the bathroom, she quickly crawled back into bed. "I had no idea you were so grabby in your sleep," she teased lightly.
Chase nearly snorted. "Who knew?" Chase replied sarcastically with a roll of his eyes. He heard Hitomi giggle lightly as she rested her head on his chest.
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It had been quite some time since Chase relaxed on his throne. Normally, he was either meditating, honing his martial arts skills or conducting espionage. But Chase didn't see the need to keep an eye on his enemies today. Lately, he felt supremely reassured in the security of his future. Chase couldn't keep the smirk off his face. It was only a matter of time now...
Idly, Chase could sense the approach of several people. The chi he was sensing was quite familiar to him. Chase frowned deeply. What did the monks want this time? Chase had been expecting the monks to run into the room with some loud declaration that he should surrender to them. He was surprised (as well as annoyed) that the monks crashed through the walls of his throne room while riding on the back of the Crouching Cougar. Chase felt his left eye twitch at the sight of the gaping hole in his wall. "I didn't know destruction of other's property was now a requirement for being a Xiaolin monk," Chase said dryly.
"Chase Young, we have not come to fight," Omi stated as he descended from the Wu along with his teammates. The monks looked to be in good health now, Chase noted.
'No. You just came to damage my home yet again,' Chase thought with a glare. He didn't voice these thoughts, however.
"We have come to reason with you," Omi said.
Chase raised a brow at this. "I am rarely surprised, but I must say that this is unexpected," he replied.
"We know what you are up to Chase Young. We have come to reason with you. We hope that you be rational and put a stop to your evil plans," Omi said.
"Oh? And what plans are those, young monk?" Chase asked as he got up his throne and approached the monks with a sly grin.
"We know that Hitomi's pregnant. Omi saw it. He also saw the world being taken over by you and the kid," Raimundo said with a narrowed gaze.
"The Crystal Glasses?" Chase guessed.
"Actually, the Fountain of Hui and the Eagle Scope," Omi answered.
Chase nearly laughed out loud. The fortunes from the Crystal Glasses were not set in stone. They could always be changed. But to foresee the world's destruction with the Fountain of Hui meant that it was a truth of the universe. Chase smirked. "You are right. Hitomi is currently pregnant. But tell me. If the child's birth decrees such destruction, how exactly do you plan to prevent the world's destruction?" Chase asked with a smug grin and his hands folded behind his back.
Omi's mouth opened and closed for several seconds. His friends narrowed their gazes, but didn't reply. Before anyone could say anything, another voice spoke up. "What is going on in here!? I heard the crash from the kitchen!"
Chase looked over his shoulder at where Hitomi had just entered the room. Thankfully, she was properly dressed. "The Xiaolin monks have come to visit. The want to congratulate us on the pregnancy," Chase said, nearly laughing again.
"That is a lie!" Omi objected.
"Hitomi, you have to listen to us. Omi used the Fountain of Hui and he saw something terrible," Kimiko said and took a step towards Hitomi with a frown of her face.
"The Fountain of Hui?" Hitomi parroted.
"It is a Shen Gong Wu that contains all the knowledge of the universe. When used with its sister Wu, the Eagle Scope, it let's the user find the specific knowledge that they seek," Chase explained. Hitomi frowned.
"Omi saw Chase and your kid taking over the world. We've heard the whole "thousand years of darkness" bit every other week since taking this job. But this time, it's serious," Raimundo said. Hitomi's hand immediately went to her stomach in a defensive gesture.
"Don't you think you're overreacting? Just a little? I mean, the kid doesn't even have all its fingers and toes yet and you think it's going to become some evil warlord," Hitomi said.
"Hitomi-" Omi started, but Hitomi cut him off.
"I know that Chase is evil. But, don't you think it's possible that the child would want to take after me and not try to take over the world?" Hitomi suggested.
"I highly doubt that any child of Chase Young will not be evil," Omi dismissed.
"We just want you to see reason here, Hitomi. At least give the kid a chance by not letting it grow up in this place," Clay suggested in a soft tone.
"That's not what you were suggesting when you came in," Chase said with a shake of his head.
"What are you talking about?" Hitomi asked him.
"Despite their claims of righteousness, the monks are showing that they are more like me than we thought," Chase answered. "They want to prevent the child's birth."
The monks were puzzled at Chase's choice of words. What did he mean "more like him"? They didn't have a lot of time to think this over, however. Hitomi was immediately shouting, "Absolutely not!" at them.
"Hitomi, please see reason. Chase Young plans to use the child to take over the world," Omi stressed.
"So to stop him, you would try to kill my baby!?" Hitomi exclaimed. She was sure that her heightened emotions were due to the cocktail of hormones flowing through her body right now, but she was sure that she would feel just as angry without them. How dare they!?
"No!" Clay shouted at the same time that Omi said, "If it is necessary."
Clay turned astonished eyes onto the small boy. "Now, hold on there pardner... We never said anything about killing any babies," Clay said.
"Clay, this is the safety of the world we are talking about," Omi said.
"It's murder is what it is!" Clay objected vehemently.
"Omi, Clay is right. I'm not comfortable with what you're suggesting," Kimiko said.
Omi's eyes widened in shock. It was happening again. He was in the minority. He had been rash and irresponsible in the past when this had happened, but Omi was sure that he was right about this. His gaze on his friends sobered.
"Raimundo," Kimiko beckoned to him.
Omi scoffed. He couldn't believe that all his teammates would turn against him like this. He had told them what he'd seen! The destruction of the world with Chase Young as the cause of it. Why couldn't they-
"Guys, I think Omi has a point here," Raimundo said.
"What!?" the other three monks all exclaimed in shock and surprise.
Raimundo raised his hands palms forward. "If this were any other situation, I wouldn't be saying this. I'm sure Omi feels the same. But guys, this is the entire world we're talking about here. It's literally Chase Young's evil kid or everyone else- everyone we know and love," Raimundo reasoned.
"Excuse me!" Hitomi objected. All eyes turned to her. "I don't think that this is your decision."
"Hitomi, please see reason!" Omi pleaded.
"If I wouldn't let Chase convince me to get rid of my child, what makes you think I would let you?" Hitomi fired back.
"Chase tried what?" Clay couldn't help but ask in thinly veiled disgust.
"Is that why he wanted the Indigo Pyramid?" Kimiko voiced her thoughts out loud.
Guessing that it was another one of the Shen Gong Wu, Hitomi asked fearfully, "What does the Indigo Pyramid do?"
"It lets you change someone's mind," Raimundo answered with a serious frown.
Hitomi frowned deeply and hung her head. He'd almost resorted to using Wu to get her to change her mind? She could feel the tears forming in her eyes. She desperately wanted Chase to deny it. But he wasn't saying anything. Swallowing the lump that was forming in her throat, Hitomi took a deep breath and picked up her head. "I don't care what anyone says. I'm keeping my baby," she said in a final tone.
"You would allow Chase Young to take over the world!? To stand back and not attempt to stop this evil is just as bad as doing the evil yourself," Omi said harshly while glaring at Hitomi.
"Omi!" Kimiko exclaimed in shock.
Omi ignored her and faced Chase Young directly. "Chase Young, you wanted me to join you once upon a time. If I offer myself to you, will you abandon your evil plan?"
"Omi, you can't!"
"Don't do this, pardner."
Chase stared down at Omi with a raised brow. The small monk looked completely serious. Chase smirked. "While the offer would have appealed to me before, I no longer have any need for you at my side. I already have everything I need," Chase said before turning to leave. "I believe that this conversation is over. I would have my jungle cats show you to the door, but I know that you are quite fond of making your own way through my walls," Chase said with a dry tone. He spotted Hitomi staring at him with unshed tears in her eyes. He stopped immediately. Quickly, she wiped at her eyes and ducked her head. Chase could feel a rare pang in his heart. Sighing deeply, Chase said over his shoulder, "Know this, monks. Despite what I've done or what you plan to do, this child will be born. I will make sure of it."