I left off with Rai fighting with Keith, right? Yeah…just to remind you guys. :)

No comment yet, really… Usually this is the place I write a lot of stupid stuff that is sometimes very random, but this time I have nothing to say. Weird, huh?

--

Raimundo's Sword of the Storm slammed heavily into Keith's blade of darkness, and the clanging noise sounded throughout the school. Both swords held out, each pushing the other into the zone of its limits. Keith and Raimundo were grimacing, trying to break the other's sword.

"Give up," Raimundo said angrily as he pushed harder into the sword. Keith pushed back, and the swords were held in a tight lock. Then the Sword of the Storm started faltering as Keith used his large body frame as an advantage to defeating Raimundo, and then the Sword slipped from Raimundo's sweating hands. He gave a gasp and reached for it, but it was too late. Keith had run forward with his sword, coming straight at Raimundo. Raimundo couldn't believe it. Was Keith really going to…to kill him?

"Die!" Keith shouted menacingly. He raised his sword and slashed madly at Raimundo, who dodged from it when it was only inches away from his head. Raimundo stepped back, panting heavily. "You were actually going to kill me, weren't you," Raimundo said, glaring at Keith. "I thought you were just…another one of those punks who act tough, but they're like fake rebels. I guess I was wrong, though. You actually are evil, just like your master Chase Young."

"Yeah, I am," Keith retorted, and his face remained hard and stony. "Besides, if I was in a weak position, without any weapon, wouldn't you have made an attempt on my life, just like I did to you?"

Raimundo paused momentarily, then looked Keith in the eye. "I'll you the truth, and not act like I'm all cool like you do. I wouldn't have done it, because I can't kill another person. If I do, then why bother fighting on the Xiaolin side? By doing something that evil does, I'd become evil. And I could never do that. So the answer is no. No matter how vulnerable you are, I still couldn't bring myself to kill you."

Keith raised his eyebrows. "You wouldn't?" he asked, sounding a little confused. "But I'm your enemy, aren't I? We have to kill each other, one or the other."

"I guess that's true," Raimundo said tersely.

Keith's expression changed, and he gave Raimundo a merciless smile. Then he looked Raimundo in the eye. "If one of us has to die in this fight, then so be it."

--

Kimiko and Tara were both concentrated their energy as they launched their attacks at each other, the balls of energy the exact opposite in color. Kimiko's brilliant red beam radiated brightly while Tara's dark violet beam gave an eerie chill throughout the air. Kimiko and Tara's gazes were interlocked, and the look they gave each other was one of purest hatred and rage.

"Tara, if you die it's not my fault," Kimiko said.

"Yeah, it is," Tara said. "And anyways, I know somebody's going to die today, but it's not me."

"Oh you stupid little…." Kimiko glared at Tara, giving her a searing look. "I've got plenty of training, and you're weak. You've never fought this way before, have you?"

"No," Tara said proudly. "But that doesn't matter, because I'm on the same level of warrior as you: Apprentice. Although I'm a Heylin Apprentice, which is much better than being a Xiaolin Apprentice."

"Yeah, well the Heylin side always loses," Kimiko said. "Just go ask Jack."

"DON"T COMPARE ME TO HIM!" Tara shrieked, outraged. "Element Destruction- Heylin Power!"

"Element Inferno-Xiaolin Energy!" Kimiko said, releasing her attack as well. The rays of light hit each other, exploding into their powers. A brownish light gleamed where both of the elements touched. Both Kimiko and Tara were trying to outdo the other with their elements, but now the powers of Xiaolin and Heylin were still balanced. Then, slowly, the red light became stronger, held for a second, then smashed into the violet light, sending it backwards. Tara remained strong, however, for she recovered and pushed back at Kimiko with a lot of force. Kimiko faltered in her stance, but regained her posture. Both of them realized that their opponent was stronger than they had taken them for, and now it was going to be all determined by the desire to win.

Kimiko knew that she was exhausted, but if she stopped for even a second Tara's light would hit her and destroy her. She couldn't let that happen, so she kept going. This was a matter of life and death, and she couldn't tire out. A beam of destruction could destroy anything in its wake, including people.

Then, Kimiko had a sudden inspiration. "Hey, Tara?"

"What?" Tara asked, not paying much attention. "Can't you tell I'm busy here?"

"No, duh," Kimiko said, although not bothering to roll her eyes. She couldn't be distracted. She needed to distract Tara and not get lost in the process of she wanted this plan to work to her advantage.

"So what?" Tara asked, still not interested in what Kimiko had to say.

"Keith is behind you," Kimiko said, pointing with one hand and keeping her attack full of power with the other. Tara gasped, and turned to look to see Keith. He wasn't there, as it was just a trick Kimiko had devised, but in that second that Tara turned and hesitated, Kimiko seized her chance. The flames penetrated the wavering light of destruction and struck Tara, who fell to the floor. Her hair had been protection, but some parts of her were burned. She wasn't hurt badly, but she was unconscious.

"Good riddance," Kimiko said, shaking her head. She fired up the lights, and then she dragged Tara's unmoving body onto a table and left her there. She hoped Tara wasn't hurt badly, but she didn't want Tara to wake up anytime soon. She had had enough for the day, and it had taken every ounce of energy just to lift Tara. Kimiko walked home, tired.

--

Calvin Young knew that somehow, students of his brother Chase Young had penetrated the school and done this. It was Heylin power, he knew, but he didn't know who would do this for Chase. He had to find them, and warn them of the danger that awaited them. Whoever Chase's students and mayhem-causers were, he needed to tell them about what they were getting themselves into. Because his brother Chase was a very dangerous person to meddle with. Carrying out his orders was a very dangerous thing indeed, and being a student of Chase was the equivalent of playing with fire.

Calvin sighed miserably. The part of the story he hadn't told Kimiko was the worst part of it. He knew that in a way, he was responsible for the terrible thing that had happened to his own brother Chase. If only, that one time he had a chance, he had taken it and stopped Chase from becoming the horrible creature he was now… He knew that he could have stopped it from happening, but he didn't.

--

Fifteen hundred years ago, Calvin was convinced, after the night he and Chase had spent together as brothers and best friends, that Chase was not going to go through with the bargain he had made with the devil for eternal youth. Chase seemed like he was normal, although he was getting paler and paler. After a few months, Chase began spending an enormous amount of time indoors and Calvin had no idea as to why. It was worrying him, because what if Chase was still going through with the plan the whole time? Calvin had felt betrayed at that thought, but he knew deep inside that he was probably right. He didn't dare check, though, because he was too frightened to face the very possible reality that lay ahead of him. He did not want to know. Knowledge was a terrible thing when it came when someone did not expect it.

Finally, he gathered up his courage again to face his brother on a warm spring day. Even though it was extremely hot outdoors, he felt cold and empty inside. Calvin was stuttering and tripping as he made his way to Chase's room.

"Chase?" he whimpered without a trace of bravery. He was ashamed of himself, but he couldn't help the fact that he was scared. He heard a loud rustling noise closeby, in Chase's small and enclosed stall. He was sure he heard something being shoved into a box, and knew that his fears were confirmed indeed. He couldn't believe it. Why was Chase hiding something from him?

"Hi, brother," Chase's nervous voice said. "H-how's it going with training?"

"Chase… what were you doing before I got here?" Calvin asked, trying to sound casual about it. There was an advantage for him: Chase looked nervous too. If Calvin could use Chase's own fears to make Chase tell him…well, that would be helpful.

"Why do you care?" Chase asked, trying to sound tough and unrevealing. It was desperately failing, though.

"Because. I haven't seen you around much." Calvin gave Chase a shrug, hoping that Chase wouldn't suspect him of lying.

"Well…just…uh…reading," Chase lied badly. Calvin examined him carefully.

"Can I see what you're reading?" Calvin asked innocently. He could almost see Chase gulp. There were thin lines of sweat on his forehead, and he actually looked red. Chase stood there for a while, thinking. Then his face suddenly changed expression midway, and he gave Calvin a look that was obviously fake. "Don't ask, don't tell."

"Uh-huh. What kind of book is it? Have you become a pervert and never told me?"

For a second, Chase almost looked grateful. Calvin realized what he had just done when he asked Chase that question: he had given Chase an excuse for hiding whatever it was he was doing. Calvin turned around and slapped himself when Chase wasn't looking.

Chase gave Calvin an amused smile. "Maybe, little bro. But so are you. Why were you looking at that green-eyed girl at that place with the big trees that way yesterday?"

Calvin blushed. "That's none of your business, Chase."

"Yeah, well, if you're going to get together with her, it is," Chase said. "But I am never going to do that kind of stuff. It's not me."

"Maybe it is," Calvin said. He was furious at himself. They were getting way off-topic, and he didn't know how to get back on it without seeming suspicious. Chase was an expert at doing this, leading people away from saying something when he didn't want them to say it. Calvin sighed. He still hadn't mastered turning Chase's tricks back on him, even though he had known Chase for his whole life.

"Would you go now? I'm still reading it," Chase said, stepping in front of his stall.

"Are you hiding something?" Calvin asked, trying to sound demanding and in control.

"Why would I be hiding anything?" Chase asked, backing off.

"You look like you are," Calvin pointed out.

"Well, I'm not," Chase said stubbornly. "Look, Cal, just because I'm reading a book that I don't want you to see because it just isn't right, that doesn't mean I'm trying to hide anything from you. Nothing that's important to you, anyways. So just… would you get out and stop invading my personal space? Because you are starting to get on my nerves. Seriously. Just…go."

"I'm not going until you tell me what you're hiding," Calvin said. He knew he was being too demanding, but if this was about that potion…he had to know. He felt guilty, because what if Chase was really innocent? There was no way to find out unless he saw what it was that Chase had dropped into a box. He just had to know.

"You can't," Chase said. His head dropped down. "You can't see it."

"I'll fight you if you don't let me," Calvin said.

"Hey Calvin, if you want me to be honest with you, why don't you try being honest with me? Because you're not telling me why you want to know. That's the way you want it to be, it's going to be that way. So spill it out." Chase gave Calvin a look of defiance as he met his brother's eye. Calvin winced. Now look at what he had done.

"Fine," Calvin said. Somehow or the other, he had known that this was the way it was meant to be. He knew, through those hot moments of prying information and tension, that this was going to happen. He shouldn't have thought that it would be easy. Chase was even more conniving and intelligent than he was.

Calvin paused, took a deep breath, and spoke. "Chase, look. All I'm saying is, I'm really worried about you. In the last month or so, you never even went outside. Training for becoming a dragon is over, but we'll become trainers for other Xiaolin warriors. I spend a lot of time out there, but you're always in your room. Why? You've been looking paler and paler, and it gets worse everyday. You look almost like you're sick or something, and your eyes are so bloodshot, like you haven't gotten any sleep at all recently. I don't want to press you and I don't want to fight with you, but I have my suspicions about this. If you want me to tell the whole truth, then here it is. I thought that, after the night we had spent out there together, that it was over. No more devil and no more potion. And I believed that you trusted me enough to tell me everything. But…I guess I was wrong. I was wrong to trust you, and I was wrong to believe that you trusted me. I wanted to believe this, to envision that we would have a great life as brothers and friends. Then I started to reconsider. What were you doing, locked up in your room for so long? Why were you not speaking with me? That's all I wanted to know, yet on some other level, I didn't want to know at all. It's terrible, not knowing what someone who you really care about will do next. Now…I've told you what I felt. Can you tell me?"

Chase's face was emotionless throughout this, but there were flickers of struggles in his expression as Calvin's words ended. "I-I- all right. I've still been working on the potion."

"But WHY?" Calvin exploded.

"Because I can't stop. He…he would kill me," Chase said, fear dawning in his yellow-brown eyes. His voice quavered as he spoke, and Calvin had to admit that he felt very sorry for his brother, just looking at him. The pale skin was becoming whiter than ever, and now, without training at all, Chase looked almost frail. He was growing thin, and there were dark blue marks under his eyes that signified how much sleep he had been getting. Calvin wanted to comfort Chase somehow, but he didn't know how. He stood awkwardly, looking at Chase's weakness. It was sad how much he had changed.

"I promise you, I'll find an answer. Just…don't take the potion," Calvin said, feeling his eyes start to fill up. He brushed them with his sleeve and continued. "I know that you're afraid of death, but… isn't everyone? What matters is how to face your fear. Because by hiding from it, it shows that you're a weak coward. Death isn't all that terrible. And think about the consequences of living forever. Won't it be horrible, to see so many others die when you are still alive? Think about it. Please. I'll help you."

"No," Chase said softly. "Can't you see it, Calvin? I'm getting weaker, every day. And I feel dizzy very often now and get hurt easily. I don't think I have much longer to live. Don't you see? If I take the potion, then we can still be together. And you can take it too. We'll stay brothers, side by side."

"By taking up the devil's offer, you're trading your own soul," Calvin said, shaking his head sadly. "Everything you know, everything you care about… all that will be gone. You'll become as evil as him, and forget our trust and what we've been through together. If that was the way I was forced to spend eternity, I would rather die right now."

"But I'm not you," Chase said. His eyes were pleading as he said it.

"Don't be a fool," Calvin replied.

"I'm not a fool," Chase said. His pleading eyes became angry. "Who let you come into my life and ruin it? You may be my brother, but you don't decide what I do with my life. I'm the only one who can do that! Don't be stupid and try to…to fool me into going back on my offer. Do you resent me and hate me? Because by telling me not to go on with this, you're asking me to die!"

Now Chase seemed dangerously outraged. Then he smiled coldly and said, "The potion is already finished. I've only just finished it today, but it's done. If you were a true brother, if you really cared about me at all, you would have made this little detour into my room earlier, when you first realized what I was doing. You chose, instead, to be a coward and continue hiding. Well, look at it now. You're too late, and you won't be able to stop me. I can easily reach into my metal box and take it out, and drink it. You asked me to be killed by the devil by not completing his request, and not I don't trust your judgement any longer. It ends now, Calvin. You were never a brother who I could believe in, a person I could trust. There were so many times when you could have asked me to stop, and I probably would have then. But that's all in the past. You made your own ridiculous fears worth more than your brother, isn't that true? Then I'll pay back that deed to you. Eternal youth is more important that anything you say, Calvin."

Calvin's eyes were wide and horrified. He was frozen by the sting of Chase's words. Inside his heart, he knew that everything Chase had said about him was true. Why hadn't he asked earlier? The potion was complete, and now all Chase had to do was drink it. If only he hadn't been afraid… and when he thought about it, what was he afraid of, anyways? The truth was truth, no matter how horrible it may be. But he chose to ignore it, and as a result his brother would…

Chase ran to the box. Calvin noticed the movement and went after him, but he was too far behind him. He ran into Chase's bedroom stall and saw… Chase was drinking the potion.

"NOOOOO!" Calvin cried, frozen in horror. Time seemed to pass by so incredibly slowly as Chase drank every drop of the vile black substance.

Calvin tried to grab Chase, but Chase pulled away.

And then the transformation began.

--

I'll continue this next chapter. This was by far the longest thing I've ever written, but I'm very proud of it. Please review. Over 3200 words. Eck.