Kimiko walked along the hallway, always feeling a tug back to the hotel room, but she refused to give in and turn around. She only felt really comfortable when she was outside. She looked along the road and Raimundo, Omi, Clay and a super-sized Dojo preparing to leave.
"Raimundo, wait!" She called.
Raimundo turned around and glared at her.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"I'm coming back to the temple," She said.
"What about him?" Said Raimundo, nodding back at the hotel.
"We can sort that out another time, but I …" She stopped, knowing that she had to say this, "I'm so sorry … this is all my fault and … just need to get back to the temple … get away from here."
Raimundo didn't say anything and Omi was looking determinedly forward.
"Well come on then," Said Clay, smiling, "We'll drop by your house to get your stuff."
"Thanks," Said Kimiko, getting up on Dojo.
She sat in front of Clay and Raimundo and Omi sat behind. Dojo lifted into the air and before they knew it, they were at Kimiko's house.
Kimiko and clay slid down off Dojo's back, but Raimundo and Omi remained seated.
"We'll wait here," Said Raimundo, looking at Clay, avoiding Kimiko's eyes.
Kimiko sighed and walked into her house. Clay followed her.
"This is stupid." Said Kimiko, "He's never even going to talk to me again."
"Nope, probably not." Said Clay.
"Why is everyone doing that to me today?" Asked Kimiko, running her hand through her long black hair.
"Well, it's not like you don't deserve it." Said Clay, "The only reason I came in with you was so that Raimundo and Omi didn't make Dojo leave you behind."
Kimiko groaned and slammed her head against the wall.
"You okay?" He asked.
"No," Said Kimiko, "It's strange to think … three days ago everything was fine."
"Three days?" Said Clay.
"Yes," Said Kimiko, "The day I get the letter, I came here, found out it was Jack and that picture of us was taken in the garden. The next day I went shopping with his mother, then I went to hang out with him and I got my copy of the picture of my computer, so we went to mess around to try and cheer me up and we fell over in the … um … alley way and you guys showed up. Then, today starting with me going into the kitchen in the morning, running after Jack, coming back to Raimundo, Omi finding out, me going to Jack again and now …"
"Wow," Said Clay, "That's a lot of stuff to happen over three days."
"Yeah," Said Kimiko, "And I think I've aged about five years in the mean time!"
"You do look a little tired around the eyes," Said Clay, nodding in agreement.
"Everything I've done has just made everything worse!" Sobbed Kimiko, finally breaking down completely, "Raimundo hates me, Omi hates me, Jack hates me … not that that's an entirely bad thing, but …"
Clay spun her round and looked her in the eyes.
"Pull it together Kim," He said harshly, "You're stronger than that! You've got to sort this out. It won't get better just because you hope it will! You've got to fight for it!"
Kimiko stopped crying and looked so amazed at this sudden speech that Clay couldn't help laughing at her.
"Come on, get packing." He said.
"Actually … could you just grab my trunk? It's all packed," Asked Kimiko, "It's just that I want to leave a note for my dad."
"Sure," Said Clay, walking up stairs alone.
Kimiko walked into the kitchen and looked around before finding a pen and a sheet of paper. She considered what she was going to say before finally putting the slender tip of the pen onto the paper and starting to write:
"Dear papa,
I've decided to return to the temple for now at least. I'm really sorry about this, but I'm needed at the temple and I'll be back for (She hesitated before continuing) the wedding. Just make sure you tell me when everything's ready and I'll get back here as soon as possible. I wish I could be here to say goodbye, but it's urgent. Tell Jack that I'm sorry for having to leave so suddenly. Duty calls.
I love you with my entire heart papa.
Love from,
Kimiko.
PS. I really mean it!"
"Are you ready yet?" Asked Clay, standing in the doorway, dragging her trunk behind him.
"Yeah, I'm done," Said Kimiko, putting the letter down on the surface where she knew that her dad would find it, "I'm definitely done."
As they touched down in the temple ground, Kimiko almost fell of Dojo and kissed the ground. She finally felt like she was at home. However, she restrained herself. She didn't want to make herself feel even more stupid than she already did.
Master Fung approached them and smiled gently at them.
"Did you have a good trip?" He asked.
"Not the word for it," Said Clay as Raimundo and Omi walked off in opposite directions without a word and Kimiko stood looking at her feet.
"How would you describe it?" Asked Master Fung.
"Disastrous springs to mind," Said Clay as Kimiko continued to stare at nothing in particular.
"Well, you both look tired, I suggest a cup of tea and perhaps you can tell me about it." He said.
He seemed to be speaking to Kimiko and she knew it would have to be her to explain what had happened. As they sat down to tea, Kimiko got that feeling after coming home from a holiday and just feeling glad that the travelling is over and you're finally home where you can be yourself. She even smiled slightly.
"Now, please tell me off your 'disasters'," Said Master Fung.
Kimiko recalled the previous three days and explained everything. She explained about how she was using Jack as an outlet for her emotions and how she had been stringing Omi along for ages and how she knew she liked Raimundo, but she also liked Jack and then the wedding and everything on top of it was making everything so much worse.
" … and everything is just my fault!" Said Kimiko.
"I see," Said Master Fung, "It appears that things have not been going well."
"That's one way of putting it," said Clay.
"So is crappy," Said a voice from behind them.
Kimiko looked around as Raimundo approached the table and helped himself to tea. Master Fung nodded, but did not comment on his choice of words.
"This is not an easily solved situation." He said.
"Tell me something I don't know," Said Raimundo, sighing.
"You have a stain on the back of your t-shirt," Said Omi, also finally sitting at the table.
"How the … oh," Sad Raimundo, pulling his arms inside his shirt and turning it around before putting his arms out again, "Wrong way around."
There was silence for a minute, then Omi and Kimiko noticed each other and started laughing, which started off Clay, Master Fung and Raimundo. As they stopped, Kimiko wiped a tear of laughter from her cheek.
"Classic Raimundo," Said Omi.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Raimundo.
"You and your particular style of 'baboonery'." Said Omi.
"Buffoonery." Corrected Kimiko.
"That too," said Omi and they all laughed again.
"When you've all finished comparing me to monkeys with bright butts, I think I'd like some more tea!" He said.
Kimiko passed him to pot and he poured some out before handing it back and she filled her own cup before passing it to Clay. They all sat in silence for a moment. Kimiko wasn't about to make the first move to break the silence.
"So, Kim," Said Raimundo looking at her, "When do we get the invites?"
"Invites?" asked Kimiko.
"To you wedding … or divorce, I'm willing to celebrate either." Said Raimundo.
"I don't know, papa's going to send me a letter when everything's ready so we'll know then … who said there was still going to be a wedding?" Asked Kimiko.
"Well, you've got to help out your dad's company right?" Said Raimundo, "And we're your best friends. I expect to be invited!"
"If you really want to come." Said Kimiko, looking down at her tea.
"We've got to get you out of there as soon as the wedding's over so you don't have to go home with Jack. You don't speak to him for a few months, maybe years, and you'll end up divorcing him and getting on with your life." Said Raimundo.
"In theory," Said Kimiko, "It's more complicated than that."
"How?" Asked Omi.
"It just is. I've got to act happy with him for a while," Said Kimiko, "So we might have to visit our parents a couple of times and then we'll start arguing and stuff and then we'll split up and then divorce. We can't look happy one minute and be getting divorced the next."
"So you're going to be spending some extra time with him?" Asked Clay.
"No more than necessary." Said Kimiko.
"I kind of got the impression you liked spending time with him." Said Raimundo, watching her.
Kimiko looked up and glared at him.
"What?" She snapped.
"Just an observation." Said Raimundo.
Kimiko get up and left the table angrily.
"Smooth move lover boy," Said Dojo, sitting on the table.
Raimundo hit him and he splattered against the wall and swore under his breath. Raimundo looked at where Kimiko had been sitting and almost felt a bit of regret. He knew he had taken it a step too far, but she deserved it … didn't she? Yeah … but she was put in this situation without much choice and … she had been feeling vulnerable when she went to Jack. Maybe she had been telling the truth when she said that she had only gone to Jack because she was upset.
"Damn girls are complicated," Said Raimundo angrily.
"Try living with a younger sister," Said Clay, "You figure it out a lot sooner."
"I'm not entirely sure your sister is a girl," Said Raimundo, who quickly received a sharp punch on the arm.
"Don' insult my little sister," Said Clay.
"Okay I fully respect her as a girl … or as much as I respect any girls." Said Raimundo.
"Perhaps that is the problem," Said Omi, "you do not respect Kimiko enough."
"Who asked you shorty?" Asked Raimundo.
"Well, it does make sense," Said Omi, "She is annoyed because you do not respect her as a girl."
"What else am I going to respect her as?" Asked Raimundo, "A horse?"
"If either of you respected Kimiko," Said Master Fung, making them jump as they had forgotten he was there, "you will respect her decisions. In everything in her life."
Master Fung left and Clay picked up Dojo and followed. Raimundo and Omi looked at each other and frowned. Master Fung was right; if they were really Kimiko's friends and if they really liked her and cared for her as much as they thought they did then they should be able to respect her and the choice she makes in who she decides to stay with when this is all over, or who she doesn't decide to stay with.
"Damn girls are complicated," said Raimundo angrily.
"Yes they are, my friend," Said Omi, "Yes they are."
(A/N) I'm sorry it's slightly shorter than normal, but I'm trying to build up to more stuff like Jack and Katnappe and stuff. This is my last update before 2006! WOOOOOOO!
I hope that you're enjoying this and I hope you like this chapter. Tell me what you think.
Lots of luv, Becky.