Chapter 13: Showdown for Her Soul
"Xiaolin Showdown!"
The 'Conversion Clay' morphed into a ring the size of a football stadium and rose far above the surface of the earth, carrying the four challengers to the same level as the clouds. Great stone pillars brought the bystanders to a height above the ring, allowing them to survey the battle in its entirety.
"GONG YI TAMPAI!" roared the three warriors plus Jack.
The cry lost its meaning of respect and honor, now assuming a more desperate definition. Raimundo couldn't lose this showdown without losing the only girl he truly loved.
"Wudai Mars Fire!" Kimiko cried, leaping farther into the air and hurling a projectile inferno that threatened to engulf the field.
"Wudai Neptune Water!" Omi said, trying to counter her attack, barely dousing it while shards of ice shot through the blending layers of fire and water in an attempt to knock the Japanese girl out of the air.
"Xiaolin Soul Wind!" Raimundo roared, scattering the flames and fragments of frost.
"Spicer Chicken Run!" Jack screamed, running across the flat battlefield to avoid being pieced by ice or burned by embers.
Kimiko, noticing the moving target below her, shot to toward the expanded Shen Gong Wu to chase down the boy genius. Omi and Raimundo, however, continued to grapple above them all, forming fists of wind and water that sliced through the air.
Like the Heylin Omi whose powers were boosted by his dark soul, the Chinese Monk unleashed his full elemental power, creating waterspout body with knuckle-claw hands that would put Wolverine of the X-Men to shame. With a mighty swing, he flung the Brazilian teen back into the clay. Upon Raimundo's impact, the 'Conversion Clay' beneath the contestants broke into four platforms suspended in midair.
Omi's tsunami armor lunged for the thin stage Rai rested on, hand outstretched and ready to do away with him. With a spontaneous surge of energy, Raimundo summoned a typhoon that diced the aqua shell into billions of water droplets. With Omi stunned, Raimundo leapt forward, grabbing the mini-monk by the leg and flinging him to the planet miles below.
"One down…" the Dragon of the Wind muttered. He looked down at the platforms and saw Jack leaping off the edge to avoid being burnt to a crisp by Miss Tohomiko's relentless barrage of fireballs.
"Crap…"
Kimiko bolted fist-first toward the Brazilian, who moved in one fluent motion, dodging her punch, grabbing her waist, and pulling her to his chest. His arms wrapped around her and her stomach, rendering her attempts to elbow his guts futile.
"Are you really gonna hurt me, Rai?" she asked in the same false-sweet voice as before.
"I'll try to end this as soon as possible…" he replied, a faint smile on his face. "I'm sorry…"
And summoning the last of his powers, he called forth a great tornado to surround them. He let go of his love and watched grimly as the twister snatched her up and deposited her outside the eye. She fell past the clay platforms and headed the same way as Jack and Omi.
The showdown was over.
After the arena returned the monks and Heylin masters to reality, Raimundo immediately called forth the 'Reversing Mirror' to dispel the 'Wushan Geysers' on Kimiko, who had caught unconscious before she connected with the ground.
The petite Japanese fluttered her eyes open to find herself cradle in her crush's arms, his face smiling down at her with relief. Her cheeks flushed a red as bright as her Wudai aura.
"Rai?" she asked the world, hoping for some confirmation that she wasn't dreaming.
"It's me, Kim." he reassured her, and without planning or expecting to, he bent down and stole a kiss from her lips. Even thought both elementalists had squandered their powers in the showdown, the embrace was still as warm and passionate as fire, yet as gentle and soothing as the wind.
A few feet away, Omi peeled his eyes from the kissing monks and stared at the ground as if his right shoe was undeniably fascinating.
"Don't be so down, Omi." Clay told him. "You should be happy for Kim and Raimundo."
"I am," the yellow monk responded glumly, "It is just that Kimiko is Raimundo's, and as always, I am the one who's alone…"
"You still got me, partner. As a friend, at least."
Omi perked up a little. "Yes…Yes! I still have my good friend Clay! Clay, do I 'love' you?"
"Uh…I hope not…"
The Wind and Fire warriors broke apart reluctantly.
"Love ya, Kim." Raimundo whispered to her softly.
"I love you too, Rai." she told him before pressing her head into his warm chest, the beat of his heart lulling her to sleep. The "blue strength" that fueled his heart and soul finally revealed itself.
It was her.
Maybe her red aura could stand for love from now on…
But their tranquil reprieve was interrupted by one Chase Young.
"Pardon me, but I believe there is a great deal of business that still needs to be taken care of…"