Hm…the whole chapter was in italics? Whoops. Ah well. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Disclaimer:scoffs: why do we need disclaimers? If I owned them, I'd have already aired them.

'I'm lost to those I thought were friends
To everyone I know
And they turned their heads embarrassed
Pretend that they don't see

That it's one missed step
You'll slip before you know it
And there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed…'

Fallen, Sarah McLachlan.

Warning: out-of-character stuff. Yeah. The usual. The only people who can make the characters be in-character are the ones whom wrote Xiaolin Showdown and whom created it. Also, slash, rape, etc.

And note: This is not a happy story. It will not have a happy ending. If you don't like my ending, feel free to erase it in your mind and rewrite another ending to it using your imagination.

Omi opened his eyes slowly. He stared up at the ceiling for a little while, before realizing that this was not the same room he had first been in. For one thing, it wasn't so dark.

He turned his head carefully, trying not to move his body too much. His clothes were completely gone, again. If that had been 'gentle' and 'easy', then he'd hate to see what was 'rough' in the cats' standards. His clothes were probably in shreds now, proving how 'gentle' the cats had been.

There was no door in the room. But it didn't matter. Experience had taught him that one of the walls would slide up with just a snap of his fingers.

Glancing around carefully, Omi also noticed that this room was much smaller than the other one. It was only big enough for a mat meant for two.

Omi recoiled as he saw that. Two. Which meant that he'd probably have to sleep next to Chase Young.

He sighed as he turned his head back to stare at the ceiling. He couldn't remember much of what happened. He had passed out during the middle of it all. Chase had just stood there and watched. Watched his desperate struggles with a cruel smile, almost as if saying he had no chance.

The wall, just then, slid upwards, jolting him back from the memories. His eyes widened as he saw a tiger standing there. He made to scoot back, but the pain in his lower back stopped him, forcing him to lie there panting in pain.

The cat, however, purred as it stepped inside followed by another cat, this time a panther. Omi watched them warily, wondering whether they came for another go, when he realized that the panther was holding a tray full of food in its mouth.

The panther stepped in before walking over slowly to him and placing the tray gently down beside the mat. The tiger, meanwhile, moved over to Omi and nuzzled him.

Omi let it. He was too tired to push the cat away. He eyed the food before realizing that he was indeed pretty hungry. He didn't know how long he was out or how long he had been here, but it felt as if days had gone by.

The tiger was now licking him. Omi, this time however, gently pushed the cat away careful not to move his lower body though.

The tiger purred before nuzzling him again, before trotting out of the small room. The panther nudged the tray towards Omi, before it too, nuzzled him then left.

Omi let out a sigh of relief as the wall slid shut. He slowly sat up, letting out a soft cry in pain. Who would've thought that it could hurt so much?

But he was too famished to care. Once the pain receded a bit, he grabbed a bowl of rice and quickly began to eat.

He had to slow down however, when he felt that the food was coming up again. Putting the bowl down, he lay back down wincing in pain. He was still hungry, but it seemed as though his stomach couldn't take the food.

The next time Omi opened his eyes, he wasn't surprised to see Chase lying beside him.

His back was facing him, and he wore no armor, only a plain black shirt and plain black pants.

At least he's asleep— Omi thought, but was interrupted.

"So, awake, I see."

Omi cringed as he saw Chase turn around and meet his eyes. Chase smirked as he saw this, before reaching out and gently stroking Omi's cheek.

Omi closed his eyes and turned his face away, but the stoking did not halt.

"How are my friends?" Omi finally asked, trying desperately to ignore the unwanted stroking.

He heard Chase chuckle. "They are just fine. Although I do not think they are very happy, right now."

Omi's eyes widened and he quickly turned his head back to meet Chase's eyes. "They know?"

Chase laughed as he finally stopped stroking him. "Of course."

Omi winced again as he averted his eyes to stare at the mat. He didn't want them to know. He wanted to forget the whole thing once they all escaped, but with them knowing…

Omi flinched in surprise as he felt the stroking start up again.

"You should not worry, young one. It is not like you will see them ever again. They will rot in their little prisons until they die, provided that you are good. They could die earlier…"

"No!" Omi quickly said, glancing up at Chase. "I'll be…I'll be good." He finally whispered.

"Good." Chase replied, sitting up. "Then, I will tell you your duties. You serve me and only me. You will do as I say. You will 'entertain' me whenever I wish, and on occasion, my cats as well."

Omi grimaced as he heard the word 'entertain'. Now, he knew exactly what Chase wanted. Sex.

Chase smirked as he saw this, but continued. "And in return, you may wander my halls and my rooms freely but you may not under any circumstance go outside. If you obey all this, your friends shan't be harmed. Understood?"

Omi nodded slowly but Chase wasn't satisfied. He grabbed Omi by the throat and jerked him close, his hands no longer human but dragon.

"I said, understood?"

Omi choked as he tried to pry off the dragon paws but they were clasped around his neck like iron. "Yes…" He whispered in desperation. "…I…under…stand…."

Chase smirked as he unclenched his hands, letting Omi drop to the floor gasping for breath. "Good." Then, he reached down and grabbed Omi's left arm, jerking it upwards, grinning as he heard a soft yelp of pain. "And so you do not forget, this will serve as a reminder."

Omi felt something clasp around his wrist, something cold and metallic. He heard a soft click, then a sudden pain shot through his arm, making him cry out. But as sudden as the pain had come, it was gone, leaving a strange numbness in his arm.

Chase let him go with a victorious smirk. "If you try to leave my Lair, or go outside without my permission, then this will numb your whole body. And the only way to take it off is either I take it off or if I am dead."

With that, he stood and snapped his fingers. The wall slid open. "This wall leads outside to another room. I think you will enjoy that room. But remember. These two rooms are the only rooms where my cats cannot go without my permission. And…" Chase smiled gently down at the child before him, "they have grown quite fond of you…"

Then, he was gone; the wall sliding shut behind him.

Omi shuddered before looking down at the arm he was cradling. There, on his wrist, was a thick metal band, with a small dragon design carved into it.

Letting out a soft sigh, while wondering what he had gotten himself into again, Omi looked around for his clothes. His eyes widened as he realized that his clothes were gone. Only a shirt and a pair of pants of Chase's was there, folded up neatly beside his side of the mat. Next to them was a small tray with a bowl of rice on it.

"No…" Omi whispered, forcing himself up. His back didn't hurt as much as before, but he didn't care. His clothes. His robes. They were gone. The only things that somehow gave him comfort were gone.

He shivered. He had never felt so alone and lost in his life.

Omi stepped out hesitantly from the room, wearing a dark blue shirt that was way too big for him. It sagged to his knees and his whole right shoulder was peaking out from the hole for the neck. He also wore black pants, which were also too big for him. Luckily, there was a string inside the pants that allowed him to tighten it otherwise it would've fallen off. He had had to fold the pant legs up, so that he could walk. He was barefoot, though.

Omi gasped as he looked outside the small room. This new room was huge. It wasn't really a room, either. It resembled more like an indoor garden. Tall green grass grew everywhere, as did numerous kinds of flowers. There was also a huge weeping willow growing near the center of the room; its delicate branches touching a crystal clear lake. "Wow…" Omi whispered, completely amazed, before jumping as the wall behind him slid shut. The room he had just come from had disappeared behind another willow, hidden successfully from view.

The walls were white, unlike all the other walls. The room was so bright, which was unusual for a room.

Then, Omi realized why. The roof had numerous glass windows, facing the cloudy sky. Staring upwards, he realized that it was still drizzling.

Averting his gaze, he slowly made his way down towards the lake. Upon reaching it, he walked into it, smiling a little as he felt the cold water flow beneath him. Looking down, however, his smile disappeared.

On the surface of the water, he saw his bruised and battered reflection staring back up at him but that wasn't what was bothering him.

On a thick branch of the willow next to him, stood Chase Young, watching him.

But when he turned his head to look, he found the branch empty. Glancing back at the water, he was startled to see Chase appear behind him. He didn't even have time to react when a hand snaked across his waist and forced him to lean back onto the body behind him.

Omi gritted his teeth, trying to calm himself as another hand slid up under his shirt, feeling him up.

"I see that you are impressed with my room."

Omi closed his eyes for a second, trying to ignore the unwanted touching. "It is very nice." He stated stiffly, trying to keep his powers under control. The water was starting to churn angrily and the drizzle had turned into rain.

"Good. Now, I have business to do. I trust you will stay here?"

"Yes."

The touching was becoming bolder and more irritating. But he just bit his lip and bore it, not wanting his friends to be harmed.

"Then, I shall return later."

The touching stopped and Chase was gone.

Omi let out a soft breath of relief, sinking down into the cold water.

Omi walked softly and slowly on the surface of the water. Days had passed by slowly, perhaps even weeks since his and his friends' capture. Nothing had changed. Neither he nor his friends could escape. He had visited his friends sometimes, but Chase would never let him speak to them. He would have him just stand behind a transparent wall and watch his friends talk (or rather yell) with Chase. They never knew that he was there.

He sometimes left the room to walk around the halls of Chase's lair, memorizing where the exits were. He knew where they were, because every time he tried to open them, a small painful jolt would run down his arm from the metal band, numbing it.

During his walks, he was sometimes able to avoid Chase's cats. Sometimes. Not always. Whenever they caught him, they would immediately rush up to him, purring with joy and most of the time demanding that he 'spend time' with them.

He had gotten used to them. Chase would force him to 'entertain' them whenever he felt like it.

Chase had also become bolder. It didn't matter to him whether Omi was up to it or not, whether it was the middle of the night or what, he would force Omi to do it with him.

He went along with it now, just clearing his mind and instead distracting himself with thoughts or memories.

He had lost so much weight over the days. He was now so pale and skinny, barely resembling the child from before captivity. After the first couple of rapes, he couldn't eat, then when he got used to it, he had already lost much of his appetite. He only ate because Chase forced him to.

Omi looked down at the fish, which were swimming lazily in the water underneath him. He had so much time on his hands now, that he just practiced using his element. He had already figured out how he could escape, but how his friends would, he was unsure.

He had also found that sometimes what one believes impossible is actually quite possible. For example, walking on the surface of water. He had been practicing this for some time now and was getting quite good at it.

He stopped, however, when he heard the wall slide open, and soft footsteps fall on the grass. He didn't need to turn around to see who it was.

"How are my friends?"

Omi looked down at his reflection, asking even though he already knew the answer. They went through this all the time.

"They are fine."

Silence. Omi waited, knowing Chase would soon say something.

"You've gotten quite good at your element, little dragon. I have not seen this trick."

Omi smiled sadly at his reflection, his back still turned. "There are many tricks that you have not seen, Chase Young."

"Oh?"

Omi could tell he was interested.

"Perhaps you could show them to me a little later."

"Yes. Perhaps." Omi whispered, still smiling his secretive smile. Then, the smile disappeared and he turned around for the first time, not yet looking up at Chase.

Slowly, he began walking back to Chase, knowing what he wanted.

Omi slowly moved out of Chase's embrace as he scooted out from under the blanket. Searching for his clothes, he found them quickly under Chase's removed clothes and armor.

Quietly sliding his clothes from under the armor and Chase's pants, his hands grazed something hard in one of the pockets. Blinking, Omi reached into the pockets of Chase's pants and drew out a small, thin chopstick. He almost dropped it in surprise as he recognized them. The changing chopsticks. Although Chase did like to use Shen-gong-wu, he still liked to carry one around, just in case he needed a quick escape.

An idea began to quickly formulate in his mind. Quickly glancing back at Chase, Omi smiled as he realized that he was still asleep. Experience had taught him to recognize when he was or was not asleep.

Quickly grabbing a pair of plain old chopsticks from the rice bowl beside him, he switched the changing chopsticks with them, making sure to tuck the normal chopsticks deep into the pockets, while placing the real chopsticks into the rice bowl.

Then, he quickly grabbed his shirt and was about to put it on, when he froze.

"And where are you going, young dragon?"

Omi's breath caught. Did he notice? Did he see? He closed his eyes in fear, praying silently that he had not seen…

An arm snaked around his waist and his shirt was snatched out of his hands.

"I did not say you could go yet, now did I?"

Without waiting for an answer, Chase dragged him back to the mat, ready for another go.

Omi, meanwhile, had gone completely limp in relief. He hadn't noticed. He never thought that he'd actually be happy that Chase wanted to have sex. But if it meant that he could get away with the chopsticks, well then so be it.

For the next hour, he was able to distract himself with the plans of his escape.

Chase had left, saying that he had business to do. Omi made sure to act like his regular self, and just watch him go. But once he was gone, Omi quickly threw on his clothes before grabbing the chopsticks. Praying for his plan to work, he walked out the smaller room, into the bigger one. Then, he quickly made his way to the lake and walked into the water, until the water reached about mid-waist for him.

"Water…" He whispered. The water immediately jumped up and molded itself into a bubble around him. "Changing Chopsticks!" He whispered then, smiling as he felt himself shrink.

Immediately, he sank under water with his bubble. "Water…" He whispered, the bubble trapping the air and allowing him to breathe. Immediately, a swift current sprang up and carried him towards a drain near the bottom of the lake. The drain, Omi had figured long ago, led to the other pipes… If he could get the right pipe, he could make his way down to the dungeons, where his friends were. There were tiny pipes in the dungeons, he had checked. They were fixed up on the ceiling and were out of sight. And some of them leaked.

It took him a few tries to find the right pipe system. Who thought there could be so many pipes? But luckily, it did not take him long. Water could be very quick if he wished.

Omi maneuvered his bubble towards the small leak. He had passed it once already, before realizing that it had been right over his the cells of his friends. He had quickly reversed the water when he had realized his mistake.

Omi held his breath as some water and him with it, fell, landing luckily onto light brown leather.

"Stupid water, fallin' on my head again."

Omi heard Clay took off his hat and shook it. The water and he fell onto the floor. "Ow…" Omi whispered, before standing up. Grabbing the changing chopsticks, he clicked them, whispering "Changing Chopsticks!".

Immediately, he reverted back to his original size. "Ouch, Clay, would you please be careful where you shake your hat?" Omi asked politely, smiling a little at the back of Clay.

"Wha? Oh, sure thin' Omi." Clay answered, not really tuned into the world. Then, he froze as he realized what he just said. Whirling around, his eyes widened as he stared at the little monk before him. "OMI!" He yelled, grabbing the water dragon and hugging him tightly.

The yell caught the attention of the other three. Dojo stuck his head out of his cage before scanning the dungeons and finally catching sight of Omi. "KID! You're okay!"

"Omi?" Kimiko asked. "Is that really you?"

"How'd you get here?" Rai questioned, looking excited.

Omi grinned as Clay finally released him. "Hello my friends! I have missed you!"

"You had us so worried!"

"Are you okay?"

"Did Chase do anything to you?"

"What happened?"

Omi sighed as he was suddenly reminded of everything. Plans. He needed to stick to his plans. "Please, my friends. I shall aid you in escaping…but first I will need you to step away from the bars…"

Everybody quickly scooted back, before waiting patiently.

Omi's head began to glow for the first time in days. "ICE!" He yelled, freezing the cell bars completely.

Immediately, Kimiko kicked the bars, breaking them; while Rai punched his. Clay grinned as he grabbed the bars and easily pushed them apart. Dojo just maximized himself, but just enough to break the bars. Then he quickly minimized himself.

Kimiko rushed over to Omi. "Omi! I missed you so much!" She whispered, hugging the little monk.

Rai grinned before hugging Omi as well. "Sorry we couldn't break out…we tried…"

Dojo nodded, curling up on Omi's shoulder. "Really hard, I swear, kid. We were so worried…"

Clay nodded before looking down at the little monk, before realizing something. "Omi…where're your robes?"

Omi flinched a little although he had been expecting the question.

At his silence, the others drew a little bit back, fearing the answer.

"Did he really--?" Rai asked, his voice cracking.

Omi, as an answer, moved into the better-lighted part of the prison.

"Oh damn…" Omi heard Rai whisper as they saw him for real.

Bruises all over his body, scars everywhere…and not just dragon scars.

Kimiko fingered one particularly ugly scar. "Tiger scars…did Chase…?" She broke off, her eyes watering.

Omi just looked away, still not answering.

"That goddamn son of a bastard…" Clay whispered, his eyes blazing. "How can anyone be that goddamn…" He broke off, unable to continue.

Omi bit his lip before finally speaking. "You must go. Chase Young is gone for some 'business' as he calls it." He looked back at his friends, his eyes wide with fear. "But he will be back, very soon. Please, you must go!"

Rai's eyebrows knitted. "Wait, wait, wait. What's all this about 'you'? Why not 'us'?"

Omi sighed. Time was running out. Quickly, he pulled up the sleeve of his shirt, revealing the metal band. "This is why."

Everyone winced as they saw how thin his arms were, before looking at the band. "And what's that?" Kimiko asked, not really understanding.

Omi let out a frustrated sigh. They were wasting too much time…

Dojo suddenly let out a soft cry, before curling up around Omi's feet. "I'm not going." He stated. "I don't care if Chase puts me on the menu, but I'm staying."

"Why?" Clay asked, his voice rising with urgency. "What's so special about an metal band?"

"Because," Dojo answered. "That band means that Omi belongs to Chase Young. And unless Chase Young himself removes it, or he dies, Omi can't leave this place…" Then, he looked up at Omi. "I'm not leaving." He stated angrily.

Rai's hands clenched into fists. "In that case, I'm stayin' too!"

"So'm I." Clay said.

"Yeah, me too!" Kimiko piped in.

"NO!" Omi cried, feeling tears making their way down his cheek. "Please don't! Go get Master Fung and the other monks, please! Chase Young must be stopped!"

"But…"

Omi shook his head, not letting them protest. "Please! I have done my part. Now please do yours."

There was a soft silence as the three dragons glanced at each other, before finally giving in. "Fine…but we will come back for you, Omi. You hear?" Rai snapped, blinking back tears.

"No!" Dojo snapped as he heard this. "I'm not going! You can't make me! I won't! I—"

Omi knelt before the dragon before hugging him. "Please. I will be fine. Please take care of my friends. Please, Dojo." He whispered.

Dojo snarled in anger but nodded in agreement.

Omi smiled a little before handing the changing chopsticks to Kimiko. "I am sorry, but that is all I could bring."

"It's okay, lil' partner." Clay said mournfully as Kimiko took the chopsticks.

Omi smiled at his friends before his forehead blazed with power. "Water!" He said calmly, watching the water form a bubble around his friends.

Kimiko looked at him. "We'll come back for you, we promise."

Omi just smiled at them, however his eyes told that he did not believe that. "Goodbye, my friends." He whispered, more to himself than them as Kimiko used the changing chopsticks to shrink them all.

His forehead still blazing with power, Omi raised the shrunken water bubble with his friends up and into the pipe.

"Goodbye…"

Hmph. Now what will happen? Tune in for the epilogue.