The silence in the room was frightening. Raimundo leant back, staring into Kimiko's tear filled eyes. Omi and Clay stood awkwardly in the doorway, tying to think of something to say. Kimiko herself was staring blankly, the tears streaming down her face. Her blue eyes looked like small circles of ice. Raimundo didn't stop staring into them, trying to find some hint of emotion inside them.
"Kimiko…" he said quietly, in a voice that resembled the one he had used half a year ago while slowly slipping into madness.
But right now, he wasn't the one who needed looking after.
"What are you all doing up at this hour?" asked Master Fung, walking along the corridor.
He looked at them each in turn, taking in their horrified faces broken by terrified eyes.
"What has happened?" he asked quickly.
Raimundo stood up, pulling Kimiko with him. Her face suddenly crumpled and she sobbed hysterically as she buried her face in his chest. He held her tightly, but he was still staring blankly at where her eyes had been.
"Kimiko…believes that Wuya resides inside of her." Said Omi quietly.
"I see, is it possible she was merely having a nightmare?" asked Master Fung.
"The same nightmare she's been having since Wuya died," said Raimundo quietly.
"Kimiko, you believe that Wuya is inside of you? Possessing you?" asked Master Fung, "Has she made you do anything?"
"N…not yet…but I can feel her, she's always inside of me…clawing to take control…"whispered Kimiko.
"Why didn't you mention this before?" asked Master Fung quickly.
Kimiko shook her head covering her face with her hands, trying to stop her eyes from crying. Raimundo stared at her, trying to figure out what was going on in her head.
"Guilt," said Clay.
They all turned to look at him. He gulped, took a breath and continued.
"She thought that the nightmares were just because she was feeling guilty…but maybe they're not." Said Clay.
"Maybe they are," said Omi.
"No!" shouted Kimiko, "She's here; I know she is and I know that she's never going to stop!"
Master Fung remained quiet. He stood tall and stayed looking calm, but it was more than likely that he was feeling the opposite of calm.
"We have much to discuss, but not now." Said Master Fung, "Return to your rooms. Kimiko shall return to her own room and will not leave until I come to wake her in the morning. Understand?"
"Yes Master Fung," said Clay and Omi, leaving the room.
Raimundo and Kimiko looked at each other. They hadn't been separated since the day Kimiko found Raimundo, covered in blood, down by the river.
"Can't she stay here?" asked Raimundo, "I mean…she made me feel safe, maybe I can do the same for her?"
"No," said Master Fung, "You are one of Wuya's greatest enemies, if Kimiko is indeed correct; your life is probably in the most danger."
"But I…"
"Raimundo," said Kimiko quietly, "I'm going back to my own room."
Raimundo stood, dumbstruck by her response. He didn't feel right knowing that she wasn't going to be with him. She was more than just the girl he loved; she was his closest friend.
Kimiko left without another word. Not so much as a 'goodnight'. Raimundo climbed back into his own bed. It felt oddly large without Kimiko sharing it. Half a year of sharing your room with someone makes it difficult to sleep alone.
It was five o'clock in the morning when Master Fung knocked on Kimiko's locked door. She rolled over and opened her eyes. She had hardly slept and dark rings had formed around her eyes. She was scared to sleep; terrified that Wuya would take control while she slept.
"Kimiko, dress quickly and come to the training area." Said Master Fung's voice through the wooden door.
She did as she was told and when she arrived she found herself alone. Master Fung was no where to be seen. Had she imagined his voice?
"Master Fung?" she called.
There was no answer. She sighed and ran a hand through her long black hair. She could've been asleep, but no! Master Fung had to wake her up and then leave without a trace.
"Close your eyes and meditate," said Master Fung's voice quietly.
She groaned and sat, crossed legged, on the table before closing her eyes.
"Clear your mind. Let it wander and relax." Said Master Fung quietly.
As she did, she felt something strange. Like she was retreating inside of her own heart.
"Open your eyes." Said Master Fung quietly.
She opened her eyes and looked around. She seemed to be in a circular room, filled with objects that she recognised.
"Where am I?" she asked, looking around.
Master Fung was standing beside her.
"We are inside your mind," he said as though this was nothing unusual.
"My…mind?" she asked.
"Come," said Master Fung.
Kimiko looked at a few of the objects scattered around the room. She picked up a photo of herself with her mother and father. She smiled gently. She looked so young…She picked up another photo of her friends and herself, and grinned. They were all laughing and making fun of Raimundo. Raimundo was pretending to look grumpy while trying to stop himself from laughing.
"This side of the room contains the things closest to your heart," said Master Fung.
Kimiko looked around and saw several pictures and small figures of her friends and family and one large one of the entire temple. There were lots of pictures of Raimundo scattered around.
"That corner contains all the things that you take seriously and all the things you dislike." Said Master Fung pointing to a corner filled with images of their enemies and things that annoyed her and also images of Shen-gong-wu.
"That door leads to your subconscious. It contains all your dreams and what is going on inside of you without your realising." Said Master Fung.
Kimiko stopped and stared at the door. She reached out to take the handle, but then let her hand fall. She was frightened that she'll find something evil in there, but also frightened that she wouldn't. What if it wasn't Wuya at all? What if she was just truly evil?
"Do you wish to find out why you are having these fears?" asked Master Fung.
Kimiko took a deep breath and reached out, taking the handle and pulling. The door opened into a long corridor with hundreds of pictures lining both walls.
"These all shows pictures of Wuya…" said Kimiko.
"That is because the person you fear most is Wuya," said Master Fung, "Now follow me to where your dreams are waiting. We can see what is really going on in your head."
Kimiko followed obediently, dreading what she might find. When they got to the latest pictures, they were all of herself and Wuya, fighting, talking and in Wuya's case, dying. Kimiko felt a lurch of guilt in the pit of her stomach.
"These are the dreams you have been having recently." Said Master Fung, gesturing towards the pictures.
"I…I'm her…I can see what I did to her…" whispered Kimiko, taking a deep breath.
"I know, but there is nothing here to imply that you are in fact becoming Wuya," said Master Fung, taking a closer look at one of the pictures.
Kimiko suddenly felt strange. It was a mixture of relief and anger…A pain which felt like a knife being stabbed into her skull suddenly ran through her. She screamed loudly.
"Kimiko?" called Master Fung, turning around.
From all around Kimiko, darkness was spreading, changing everything inside of the corridor. The pictures were changing. They were someone else's dreams.
"I'm…not…Kimiko…" came a dreaded voice from Kimiko's mouth.
When Kimiko opened her eyes, they were cold and full of hatred and evil…
"Thank you for helping her put down her guard, you allowed me to take control temporarily," came a cracking voice.
"Leave her alone!" shouted Master Fung.
"Oh believe me, she's not the one in danger…"
Kimiko raised a hand and darkness streamed out of her open palm, engulfing Master Fung.
Raimundo woke up at the sound of a high pitched scream that he recognised all too well.
"Kimiko!" she shouted, running through the temple.
He got to the training area to see both Master Fung and Kimiko lying on the ground. Omi, Clay and Dojo stood behind him, staring down in amazement.
Kimiko slowly sat up, shaking her head gently. Raimundo ran over and crouched down next to her, supporting her. Omi knelt next to Master Fung, he was hardly breathing.
"Kimiko," he said gently, "What did you do?"
(A/N) Wow, none of my stories have ever managed to get 21 reviews on the second chapter before. Thank you to all my reviewers! Luv you loads!