Chapter 11: Maybe You Should Try.
"It's another clear night Kimiko. Do you think you survive without cutting yourself?" asked Raimundo."I could, stop me if I do... May I ask you something?" Kimiko got up from the ground and picked up her blankets.
"What is it?"
"Can I?..."
She stopped talking and blushed a little.
"Can you do what? You can sleep on the bed this time."
Raimundo got up too but Kimiko pushed him back on the bed with force he didn't know she had.
"No, could I... Sleep next to you this night again? So you could... Protect me? It's okay if you don't want to, I understand."
He did want her by his side.
Ever since that time they kissed... He felt this bond.
No one else could make him feel this way.
"Sure. I'll make some room for you." Kimiko lifted up the bed sheets, and clambered into the bed.
"Comfortable?"
"Kind of..." She felt this burning feeling on the side where Raimundo was laying.
It was like her whole body was blushing!
"It's hot in the Temple, don't you ever keep the windows open?" asked Raimundo.
"No... I prefer to keep the warmth and heat around me. Not like you..." Kimiko replied.
"So? It's not like I love the cold or anything. Now that you mention it, you feel a bit cold."
Both
of them were in their same clothes, except they were washed quite a
while ago. Kimiko was wearing a gown like version of her original
clothes.
"I thought you didn't change your clothes." Raimundo observed.
"I didn't expect you to keep your promise either, seeing that you have your silk pants and regular red shirt!"
The only difference was the silk pants though.
"You don't need to look at me that closely, so now let's get some sleep."
He ran his hand through his hair and turned away from Kimiko on the bed.
"Are you cold?" Raimundo touched her leg again, sending blissful shivers down her spine.
"I'm not cold." she whispered.
"Just checking."
Still shivering a bit, she snuggled closer to the heat. Which happened to be Raimundo's chest, except she didn't know that.
He opened his eyes when Kimiko rested her head on his chest. It was pleasant... And tingly too! Was she asleep?
Raimundo kissed her on the forehead, thinking she was asleep and he muttered:
"And to think everything was useless in life"
Kimiko sighed to herself when she heard that.
Everything was perfect this moment.
His arms went around her again.
"I'm still awake if you haven't noticed." Raimundo let go of her and gasped.
"You didn't hear anything."
Kimiko pulled the covers over her head and cuddled against him more.
"I didn't tell you stop this time did I Raimundo? To think you're so nice now. I bet that's your first complement."
That was his first good complement, an actual complement!
"Thank you Kimiko."
"No need to thank me." She literally melted into him. One day this perfection would disappear.
"Morning." Raimundo said groggily. "What?"
This time she didn't jump at sight of him.
"There's a surprise, you didn't scream your head off this morning."
Kimiko got off the bed and stretched.
Being cramped onto a small bed was something she had to get used to, and the Prince never did share his bed before either.
"Should we go check on Dojo- I mean... Clay? I'm sure you don't know him but we should go and see him!"
Kimiko covered up her mistake quickly, but Raimundo saw right through it.
He wouldn't admit he was watching when she was having a chat with that gecko.
"Okay Kimiko. Not like I can do anything else interesting when you're around."
Maybe a little image of him and Kimiko kissing popped in his mind, because he regretted whatever came out of his mouth.
"I'm sure you had plenty of fun being cooped up in a dingy palace. Yes, I do think it was dingy." Kimiko sniped.
"Sorry Kimiko. Let's just go. That Clay guy better be worth my time...I think Lucia mentioned him before..."
He didn't have any time to think about when, because Kimiko was already going into her bathroom, if you could call it one.
"Changing your clothes?" she asked.
"You wish. Come on, the bars opening in like..."
"A little while? I know. Don't think I don't know these things! When we come back we need to make some potions too..."
Kimiko closed the door for privacy and pursed her lips.
She didn't need to sleep with Raimundo yesterday.
"It's the phases of love." A nagging voice in her head said, and she didn't bother to bat it away... This time.
"Kimiko!" Another girly voice.
Kimiko turned around and pushed Raimundo down into the hallway, causing a groan of pain.
"Hey Keiko! What are you doing up so early?"
Kimiko used her foot to move Raimundo's foot out of the hall.
"Oh I wanted to visit you. Is something wrong with your foot?" Keiko asked, clearly curious.
"Nothing,
nothing. I tripped over something, so there's no bruises or anything!
Go ahead to your breakfast, I need to go on a walk."
Keiko nodded and turned around, at the same second Raimundo sneezed.
"Bless you Kimiko, that didn't sound like your sneeze."
"Never mind me! I have a bad cold." Kimiko piped.
"Remind me to give you some potions later." Keiko waved, and skipped away.
"Well thanks a lot for pushing me into a hallway, and then kicking my foot!"
The Prince got up and dusted himself.
"Sorry Rai. No one really knows you live... Here. Get going before Master Fung sees you." Kimiko whispered.
There was a scratching noise. Someone was in the hall still!
"Go Raimundo!" Again, she shoved him away, and sighed when she saw that it was only a small mouse. "False alarm Raimundo..."
"I hate this place." Raimundo complained.
"You only don't like it because there is something on your shoe!" Kimiko hissed.
Yep, they were in the good old bar, and Raimundo didn't even know he had something on his shoe.
He groaned in disgust and shook a toad of his shoe.
"That's not what I was talking about! Look, it's Jack Spicer and Clay
Bailey! Possibly the most..." Kimiko silenced him and took a step
forward.
"Go do something else while I talk to Clay, Raimundo. Don't go wandering off like some child,"
That was an insult to Raimundo, but he didn't dare fight back to her!
"Fine,
expect me nailed to the ground; not moving an inch!" Raimundo stuck out
his tongue and crossed his arms, mimicking what Kimiko does all the
time. He could disobey Kimiko, or be a good teenager.
(He is eighteen)
Raimundo chose disobey.
"Jack! What are you doing here?" he asked.
Jack turned around, then frowned when he saw Raimundo standing there.
"I thought you didn't come to bars. But hey, you're the Prince! What do want now? Need a tree chopped down?"
Raimundo laughed to himself. Hire him again? No! It would hurt his reputation, and his love for... Kimiko.
He
slapped himself on the head and continued talking, "No, I don't need
you. My friend wanted to come here... Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure anything for the mighty Prince of Xiaolin." Jack responded.
Raimundo not fazed at all, lowered his voice and sat down at a table with Jack.
"Have you ever... Liked someone?"
"Sure, you know like I like you, Clay-"
"I mean like more than friends! A girl!" Jack raised his eyebrows and fiddled with his fingers.
"Well Sophia is kind of pretty..."
Raimundo, knowing this wasn't going to work; stood up, and stamped his foot.
"You know perfectly what I am talking about, HAVE YOU EVER LIKED A GIRL BEFORE?"
By now, most of the eyes in the bar were placed on Jack and Raimundo.
"Is this an order your Highness?" asked Jack wryly.
"YES! Answer me!"
Kimiko, amused; watched the scene before her.
Raimundo was screaming and throwing one of his royal fits, this was grand.
"I see that's yer friend Kimiko?" Clay smiled from behind his giant hat while Kimiko blushed.
"Yes he is, it's just that he's a bit odd today," she replied.
"So, yer like him a lot? He's a fine lad,"
"I know, nice body, personality..."
Clay tapped her shoulder and pointed at Raimundo.
"... Kimiko!" That's all Kimiko could hear from her distance.
"I think yer got yer self a mate!"
"I'm sorry Raimundo, I don't know what you're talking about! What is it with you and Kimiko? You're confusing me."
It sounded almost as if Jack was pouting.
How could this 'Axe Man' not know anything about this subject?
"Fine Jack, see you later. You can have Sophia"
An idea sparked into Raimundo's mind.
"Go ahead and take her, I don't want her." Raimundo, smiling, walked over to Kimiko.
"Raimundo! What were you doing yelling at Jack?" Kimiko asked.
"Personal information Kimiko. I need to talk to Clay." Kimiko moved out of the way and stared at him.
"Don't let me catch you raising your voice again, I feel like I have to take care of you."
Raimundo shrugged this off and flashed her one of the most dazzling smiles he could muster.
"Don't worry about me Kimiko."
Still unsure, Kimiko turned to Jack.
So what can I do for yer Raimundo? Or would yer rather be called Prince?"
"Both are fine. Answer this question, have you ever fancied anyone?" asked Raimundo.
"I
think yer should know what yer talking about before yer ask a question.
Besides, I think you already have someone in the net, if yer know what
I mean." Clay winked and took a sip of his drink.
What did he mean?
Raimundo mumbled "This 'love' is so complex..."