------------------------------
Kimiko again; woke up with a splitting headache. Why was she?...
Then she remembered. Him. He went somewhere, or was it all a terrible dream? Her eyes didn't open, because she knew when she did, she would realise everything that happened was true. Everything.
She didn't stir.
Master Fung probably was keeping a close eye on her nearby. Thinking
this over, Kimiko finally sat up; with her eyes closed. "Kimiko? How
are you? I was most worried- I thought you wouldn't survive!" Not in
the mood to talk.
Memories came again. Raimundo left, and he actually hurt her. Did he mean to?
"Kimiko?
Will you open your eyes? Before Raimundo left he was like this, he
wouldn't talk to me, even though I am his favorite monk!" That name.
"Don't.
Say. His. Name." Kimiko hissed. To herself, she sounded fine. When Omi
heard her, he backed away. "What's wrong Kimiko? Open your eyes!" She
boiled over.
"I LOVED HIM! THERE! THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS! DO I
GIVE A FUCK! I REFUSE TO OPEN MY EYES!" Kimiko stumbled out of her bed,
and moved around, feeling for anything familiar. The empty spot in her
heart threw her off. And this wasn't her room. It was Raimundo's, he
destroyed hers.
"Calm down Kimiko! Omi was just tryin' to cheer you
up!" She felt someone sweep her off her feet and throw her back on the
bed. Damn that Clay. Damn everyone. No use in getting up now. "Kimiko,
calm down. Raimundo's just missing, that's what the old Master Fun
says. Raimundo will come back." Sure he would. "SO? IT'S NOT LIKE YOU
UNDERSTAND!" she snapped, hitting Clay in the face.
Looking with her mind's eye was working.
"Kimiko!
You must understand! Master Fung wants to talk to you once you get
better! I was most worried when he broke his arms." Broke his arms?
Raimundo never would do that. First, he was too weak. Second, he was
too caring. Third... "Kimiko! Why don't you have some breakfast?" Dojo
asked, coming into the room. She felt something get set down on her
lap. "Hello? Open your eyes Kimiko! I'm right here! See the green
dragon?" She blocked all this out. Privacy was needed.
Finally she was sleeping again. The only thing she was dreaming about were almost black, green eyes staring back at her.
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Raimundo
was on top of the Temple roof, using the Falcon's Eye to see what
Kimiko was up to. It's not like he cared though. The side of good
sucked. Smirking, Raimundo watched everyone leave the room. Kimiko fell
asleep. She was most likely still the in the state of shock of having
Raimundo go away.
He glided down to Earth, and floated to the front
of the window. Her hair was spread around all about her; like a fan.
The sun light... No. Couldn't think about that. "Raimundo?" Crap, crap,
crap... Raimundo launched off the ground and landed in the willow tree.
Omi was too stupid to look over there.
"What's wrong little buddy?"
"I
thought I just saw Raimundo. But I know that's nonsense." Raimundo
listened reproachfully. His former friends were down there. And they
were bad mouthing him. It was all their fault he left anyways, calling
him names and hurting his feelings. "Yep. Raimundo isn't coming back
this time. Remember last time? Kimiko came in the Temple blushing. She
didn't tell us anything about what happened." Clay said, not aware of
Raimundo. Frowning, Raimundo shifted around the branch.
"Did you
hear that?" Omi asked, glancing up at the tree Raimundo was hiding in.
Shit. "Probably nothin'. You've been to high on your guard Omi,
Raimundo isn't coming back. I know he isn't he told me something once.
And I thought it was weird, so I didn't tell anyone." Raimundo bit his
lower lip. How could Clay still remember? If he didn't remember he was
supposed to be at training right now, then how could he remember that?
"Raimundo
once told me to not follow him. Not follow his path. He also said--
Something about take care. Take care of what? Then he muttered
something about 'You won't understand,' He was starting to get all,"
Clay trailed off, "I think there's a person in that tree Omi." Raimundo
didn't stir. If they found him, so what? They could try to catch him.
Raimundo was too swift, and everyone from the Temple had experience
from all those tricks.
"My tiger instincts tell me that no one is there, just Wind."
Yeah, Wind.
"Guess
you're right. Want to see what's up with Master Fung? I think I hear
him callin'." Omi's and Clay's footsteps died away. So. Clay did know
what Raimundo told him. But he didn't hear the main part. And... Kimiko
was blushing? Raimundo added that into his brain. It was important
information, to him.
Pausing, Raimundo waited for someone to come
back just to see if they were right about the Wind in the trees. Nope.
Hopping off, Raimundo saw Kimiko, facing the window. Her eyes were
closed. This was when he was going to turn his back on her. On the
Temple. Turning his head away, he blocked the view of the old Chinese
building. "Adeus, amigos." Good bye... Friends.
----------------------------------------------------------------
She
kept her eyes closed. The second Kimiko would open them, then all would
come true. "It's not true... It's not true..." Kimiko hugged her knees
to her chest and rocked back and forth. Her words were starting to make
no sense at all. Pretty soon, she was saying, "It's true... It's
true..." Over and over again. Omi and Clay didn't dare enter. She
needed to be alone for a while. The one person she wanted now was
Raimundo. He'd never fight her. He'd never hurt her. He promised. Isn't
a promise a promise? Why? Now she felt hopeless.
Kimiko ran her
fingers through her hair. It didn't feel silky. Maybe because there was
so much dust in it from RAIMUNDO. "Can't say his name. Can't say his
name. He's gone. Gone just like that. In a snap."
To everyone; including herself, she sounded crazy. Then she found herself talking to herself.
Gone like the Wind.
He is the Wind.
Was the Wind, is the Wind, same thing. If he's there then he's there. But it looks like he isn't!
He still loves me. Still loves me.
Did he love me in the first place? No he didn't. Why can't I say his name?
I loved him...
Everything in the Temple seemed to quiet. It's like everyone was listening to what Kimiko had to say. But she didn't care.
"He
cared! HE ACTUALLY CARED! How could I let him go! HE SLIPPED AWAY! I'LL
NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE! I DON'T CARE WHO THE FUCK KNOWS! HE WAS THERE!"
Kimiko felt the tears spring out of her eyes. There wasn't a use in hiding what she felt.
"THE
ONLY ONE THAT UNDERSTOOD ME! THE ONLY ONE I'LL LOVE! AND HE'S GONE!
SOMEPLACE I CAN'T BRING HIM BACK!" Every single monk in the Temple
heard that. And Raimundo, who was in mid flight; heard it too. He
sighed and shook his head. For a second, his eyes were a bright green.
Then it faded...
Master Fung, Dojo, Clay, and Omi were at the doorway, staring and waiting for what Kimiko would do next.
"HE WAS EVERYTHING! THERE'S NO USE IN DOING ANYTHING!"
Hurt stabbed at her, while Fire formed in her hands. Master Fung again; hastily tried to stop the elemental powers. His broken arm slowed him down. No use, like she said. "FIRE!" Raimundo's room was going to burn... He was going to burn...
Master Fung reached her in time
to stop her from using her powers. When she stopped, she was just a
little, helpless girl; sobbing over a broken heart.
"Kimiko, calm yourself!"
"Kimiko! You must tell me what is wrong!"
"You okay Kimiko?"
"I'm sorry..."
Where
were all those voices coming from? Four? Master Fung, Omi, Clay, and
who? It sounded like Raimundo... But he's not here; and he's not
sorry... Kimiko was placed down on Raimundo's bed again, and besides
the pain in her heart, and the burnt objects in Raimundo's room;
everything was the same. She fell into a feverish state after that
happened.
"It used up too much of her Chi. Dojo, tell me when she
awakens. Clay, Omi, keep a close eye on her. We do not want her to burn
down the Temple." Omi bowed and moved toward Kimiko's side. "Hello,
Kimiko! Can you hear me?" Dojo rolled his eyes and answered Omi's
question, "Of course she's not going to answer you. Her fever is
probably somewhere in the 100's by now,"
Clay meanwhile shuffled
over to Kimiko and felt her forehead. "Yep, she's burnin'. I think you
should get her some ice." Dojo muttered something under his breath and
slithered out of the room.
So when was Kimiko going to feel better? She freaked out too soon. Something worse was coming. Definitely.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Another dream...
Raimundo
smiled, the Wind blowing through his hair, ruffling it in different
directions. Kimiko gazed. She loved him back then. His charming smile... "Hey Kim! Why don't you race me? First to training wins! You'll have to do my chores!"
"Not so fast! I---" Kimiko stopped her sentence to push Raimundo down. Then she began running.
Raimundo smirked and got up from the ground. "No cheating Kim!" Soon
she found him right next to her, the sun making him seem even more
gorgeous.
"See you later!" He winked at her and quickened his pace. In about five
seconds he arrived at the training grounds. About one minute later
Kimiko came.
"See? Now you have to do my chores! Good luck!" He gave her a small
kiss on the forehead; and he galloped away, leaving her in his dust.
Sighing, she knew she was never going to tame him. And now she was on
the training grounds alone. The golden colored wheat swayed gently in
the Wind, and Kimiko lost herself to her thoughts. He cares.
"Yo, Kim!" Raimundo came gliding back, stopping right in front of her
face. His green eyes looked right into hers. She found herself looking deeper into them, and her head slightly moved toward his till...
"Come on! It's lunch time!" He said, like he just didn't notice she was
gazing into his soul. "Oh... Yes. Come on, let's go then." She followed
him back toward the Temple, and somewhere along the way, he took her
hand in his.
"Slowpoke! You're never going to make it at this rate!" Pulling her
along, Raimundo ran with no care in the world. Kimiko; not knowing what
he meant by carefree just tagged along. She didn't understand him
entirely, but she did get the details about him. Not to mention appearances...
"Don't you want to play a prank on Omi? Come on, he's going to be
coming through that doorway any second now. Don't you see him? Now if
we put some lipstick there, he'll see it, then go after it." Kimiko
grinned gingerly and gave him a shy peck on the cheek. It was the first
time she ever did that. Raimundo didn't blush, he thought of it like a
sisterly thing to do. Not a way to express her timid love for him...
"So you in?" he asked, catching up with her. She had already walked
into the kitchen.
"Maybe next time, Rai. Not in the mood today. Maybe tomorrow," She gave
him a wink, "I promise I'll think of something this time." She gave him
a small hug and sat down at the table. If only it could be that simple
to be a lover. "Don't leave Rai."
----------------------------------------------------------------
When did that happen? It was so far back...
Awake again. She was so thirsty... Her throat was parched, and it seemed as though she had been crying; because her throat was throbbing, and her breathing was shaky. She was crying. Licking her lips, Kimiko tasted her salty tears. "She's awake again Master Fung, and this time she doesn't look like she wants to burn down the Temple!" Clay hollered. Kimiko put her hands to her ears and thought over about what happened. That dream never took place. Raimundo never did that to her. He never was that playful; at least not now. "She was talkin' in her sleep. She said 'Don't leave Rai.' I think she was dreamin' about somethin' to do with him." What a great explanation. Kimiko didn't snap back though. She was too pissed.
She felt horrible. Her hair felt awful. This would
scar her emotionally...
"You were most hysterical Kimiko! I found
it..." Kimiko didn't listen to a word he said. Nothing was going to
matter. Her thoughts were even turning on her. 'He left because he
doesn't like you-'
"SHUT UP!" Kimiko threw her hands up in the air;
frustrated, but not weak. Omi took her left hand, Clay her right, to
stop her from moving. "You are feverish! You must not get up!" Omi
explained, jerking her back down.
"You're going into hysterics! Lay
down!" She felt like biting them, hurting them. Kimiko finally quit
struggling. No use. Not in anything. She is all alone. "Kimiko? You
okay?" How many times would Clay ask that!
"Just leave me alone. Leave me be. Shut the door behind you." Kimiko said, waving them away with her hand. They didn't argue. After a while she heard the soft click of the door shutting. Getting up, Kimiko used her hands to feel around.
"I can't open my eyes."
With her hands exploring everything in Raimundo's room, she used her
mind's eyes to look around. There had to be something he was hiding in
his room. That would explain why he kept this all so messy...
Swearing, Kimiko lifted her foot up from the ground. Why did he leave
push pins on the floor? Might as well sleep the whole fucking day
away... She put her foot back down, on a sweater this time. Searching
still, Kimiko tried to find whatever she was looking for. A sense
inside her told her, 'You'll know when you find it.' Yeah. Whenever
that was. Fine.
The thing she was looking for was... A knife. She was usually such a
cheery person, and she knew Gothic people were the ones who found
cutting themselves pleasurable... Raimundo was sure to have one hidden
somewhere. Even though he didn't seem like the person that liked to do
that to themselves. Her fingers touched a crooked blade. This wasn't
going to hurt as much as loosing Raimundo.
Grasping the knife, Kimiko dragged it deep into her flesh. Blood poured
out, but she didn't feel anything. No one was to stop her. Unless...
Someone cared.
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Raimundo was still watching, for afar. But he couldn't stop her. If she died... It would be all her fault. Nothing had to do with him.
Looking away from the vision the Wind had created for him; he sat down. The best place to be was in the sky. And that's exactly where he was. Hovering some hundred feet above the Temple, above China. What would he do and how he would survive? He would manage. The Wind would help. Anything was possible.
With a need for entertainment, Raimundo stared
back at his globe of air. Kimiko was on his bed, sinking a knife into
her skin, but still she hadn't found his diary! It was right next to
his bed too! But it wouldn't tell her anything. All the messages were
made so that only he could understand. Raimundo listened closely to
what Kimiko was saying.
"Don't get it. Life isn't fair! Why did you leave me?" she asked,
almost tilting her head; and looking up at him. She couldn't see him,
but she did feel like he was there. Raimundo shook his head. Can't feel
sorry. She knew she couldn't have him. "Why is everything is
changing!" Kimiko threw up her hands, and the knife flew from her hand
to the ground, dripping blood. Bleeding. And she would faint in a
couple of minutes if she wasn't careful. "You think this hurts? Well
WHAT do you think is happening to my heart right now!" Broken into a
million pieces? Raimundo sneered and continued to walk on his air.
He won't talk to her, even though he knew it hurt her, but there was
nothing in between them! "So what do you think?" Kimiko asked, quietly
this time. Something was coming from her eyes... Tears? Raimundo had
seen her cry before, when he left, and when her dad was a zombie. But
her eyes were closed this time. Her tears flooded down her face, mixing
with the blood on her thighs.
"This doesn't sting! You never said it would be okay, and if you did;
I would say yes, back then. But now look you messed everything up!"
Raimundo tossed his head and made another vision with this hand,
blowing away Kimiko's globe. A new scene was there. Master Fung and the
two other Xiaolin monks were sitting at a table; outside. Interested,
Raimundo made the vision larger. "Why would he leave Master Fung? Did
he do anything to Kimiko to cause her to go mad?" asked Clay, fingering
his lasso. Master Fung shook his head and looked down at his cast. Nice
damage Raimundo did there.
"I'm afraid Raimundo will not be coming back to us. He may have joined
up with Wuya again, or possibly Chase Young. I find this troubling. He
didn't do anything to Kimiko." Omi cocked his eyebrows and stood up on
his chair. You could just see the modesty flowing out of him... "I will
save Kimiko and Raimundo! First Kimiko, then the betrayer Raimundo!"
That word made Raimundo spit. Uh, betrayer? No. Just a... Person who was tired of it all.
"He will not allow you to catch him, Omi. We must not talk of or plan openly. He is watching." Master Fung seemed to glance up at the sky. "He's close." Clay shrugged and held onto his hat. "If he's watching, then why doesn't he hurt us now, or is he still good?" Raimundo's ears pricked. Something right now? That could and would be arranged...