You can't even imagine how torturing it was to me to translate this chapter. And I still had to change some scenes, add others... and take offense of certain people. If there's something I hate, it is ignorance! I'm usually a calm person who can put up with many things, but offending my country (and some others too) really makes my blood boil! The point is: I was in such a bad mood that I barely could translate this.
And I still have to tell you two things. One, Drago does not exist in this fic. And two, I'm SO stupid that this fic ended up ahead of "First Love?", which means that it contains spoilers for that fic! Droga! I hate my slowness!
sighs Well, thank you very much to everyone who reviewed!
Regrem Erutaerc – Ok, here's chapter 21. It's pretty boring, with no action at all... I could list all the bad points of it here, but the list would get too long. Then again, maybe I just think like that now because I'm angry. Oh, I'm so sorry for not being able to talk to you very much... ó.ò Maybe next week.
VampireNaomi – Oh, yes. Julia growing up definitely is a strange signal. This chapter is the beginning of the spoiler to my other fic. I'm sorry that this chapter is so boring. And do you believe that the original version is even worse?
Forgotten Love – Well, the only good news of the day: there is a romance with Bai Tsa and Valmont, though it won't be as easy as it seems. Have I already mentioned that I like to write love triangles? chuckles I think future chapters (from chapter 26, that is) will have more action, like chapter 20. Especially after being inspired by a great fic called "Silencio"!
Oh, FF.net has a new system to preview and upload chapters. Just too bad that it deletes the scene division I write and the smilies, and everything else that is not a normal word!!! I can't believe it! Now I hate to separate the scenes with "------"!
Chapter 21: At the Hospital
The ambulances soon arrived and took everybody to the hospital. Jack was still very worried about his parents. Jade hugged her cousin to console him and smiled softly.
"Don't worry, Jack. They are going to be alright." she said and the boy nodded, beginning to cry quietly. Jade held his hand and guided him to the ambulance where Jackie was.
------
Po Kong opened the door violently so that everybody could enter as soon as possible. Almost all the demons needed a rest urgently. That strange dark chi explosion had really affected them. Few minutes later, Hsi Wu arrived with Julia and Valmont, and let go of them. She looked to be fine, but her father had to make a great effort just to get up.
The sky demon eyed all his siblings in confusion.
"What happened there? What was that explosion?" he asked.
"I was going to ask the same thing." Tchang Zu said looking at Shendu.
"I tried to warn you, but you did not listen to me!" the dragon defended.
"Stop fooling and explain what happened." Tso Lan ordered in a rather annoyed tone. Probably because of the total failure of their ambush. Shendu drew a deep breath and still hesitated before answering.
"The Chans tried to do the Hsi Sheng ritual." he explained shortly and that was enough for everybody to understand. At first, nobody said anything, which made Julia grow curious.
"What is that Hsi Sheng ritual?" she wanted to know.
"It is a very dangerous ritual. You have to offer the soul of somebody you like to banish demons." Shendu answered.
"H-How could the Chans take such a risk? That ritual is very dangerous!" Xiao Fung stated. Julia was surprised to see that even the wind demon was so serious.
"That is what concerns me. That strange explosion indicates that their plan failed and that something went wrong. That is not good..." Tso Lan said thoughtfully.
"But if the ones who were banished to that dimension return... does that mean your son was sacrificed in vain, Shendu?" Hsi Wu asked, making the fire demon flinch.
"Hsi Wu!" Tso Lan said in a scolding tone.
"Huh? Shendu, you have a son?!" Julia asked in surprise.
"I had. I was forced to sacrifice him a long time ago." he answered trying to look like he did not care. Julia's expression saddened. She hadn't known that Shendu had children.
"I am sure that after that explosion, the Chans won't dare to try it again." Po Kong said to change the subject.
"That does not matter anymore. Now let's just hope that nothing has changed." Tchang replied.
"I agree. We do not have time to deal with more enemies." Po added.
"Enemies?" Julia repeated curiously, though nobody paid her any attention.
"What are we going to do about the Chans now?" Dai Gui asked and Bai Tsa sighed.
"I am very tired now. They almost banished us and that costed us too much energy. We can think about the Chans later." Bai Tsa remarked rubbing her temples and stood up. "I am going to my room now. Good night."
"We all should do the same. We have to be ready to face them tomorrow." Tchang Zu said and all the demons went upstairs, except Po Kong and Hsi Wu, who were in better shape and not so tired.
The mountain demon glanced around herself and then at her youngest brother.
"Where is your slave?" she wanted to known and Hsi shrugged.
"I'll pick her up tomorrow."
"Why?"
"Hey, I cannot carry three humans at once so easily."
Po Kong looked seriously at him, but said nothing.
"Yeah, Hsi Wu would never let Jade go, especially after they're getting along so well." Julia commented glancing suggestively at the sky demon, who looked away frowning. "Right, dad?" She tapped him lightly in the back, but he yelped and knelt down looking to be in pain.
"What now?" Po asked bored.
"I think his injury became worse due to the explosion." Hsi answered. Julia raised a brow and approached her father.
"Come on, dad. It's not so serious. Let me take a look..."
When he removed his hand from his abdomen, all of them could see he was bleeding. Julia immediately turned pale and closed her eyes.
"Blood! I hate blood! Someone, take care of it now!" she yelled turning around. She sat in one of the sofas not even glancing at Valmont or the demons, looking angry.
"What's her problem?" Po Kong asked in slight confusion.
"Family problems, I suppose." The crime lord answered looking seriously at her before groaning and pressing his abdomen again.
"Well, someone has to take care of him." the mountain demon said looking at her youngest brother.
"He is not mine, Bai Tsa is the one who should do it."
"All right, then tell her about it."
------
Bai Tsa watched the man who was few steps away from her. He had his back to her, but surprisingly she did not care. He was observing the sea in front of him. He was wearing so many clothes that from this angle seemed to be a white robe. He had pale blond hair reaching his waist, tied in a ponytail. He resembled her recently acquired mortal Valmont, but somehow they were still very different.
The sun was setting in the direction of their sight, so she barely could see him clearly.
Then she felt like she should say something, but could not remember what. A sharp pain flashed through her and she closed her eyes. Soon the pain was gone and she opened her eyes again, but the man was not there anymore. The weather had changed too, now she felt cold. She heard steps of someone approaching behind her. And yet, she felt so incredibly lonely.
"I hope now you will listen to our father." Po Kong's voice was said and Bai Tsa didn't know why, but her eyes were filled with tears. "You should have taken care of him. You lost so many mortals that perhaps now you can finally understand."
Bai Tsa opened her eyes and was surprised to see she was about to sleep. However, the most intriguing fact was that she didn't manage to cry, though she wasn't sad at all.
"Strange..." she muttered and glared at Hsi Wu and he opened the door of her room.
"May I enter, sister Bai?" he asked and she snorted.
"Why do you ask if you already entered?" she snapped.
"It is about your slave..." Hsi said and Bai's expression immediately changed.
"What about him?" she asked frowning and he shrugged.
"He got hurt in that explosion. Perhaps if you -" Before he even finished the sentence, Bai Tsa stood up and interrupted him.
"Not again!" she shouted and ran to out the room.
"Again?" His Wu repeated in confusion.
------
Valmont was lying in a sofa. Po Kong was seated next to him, holding a bloodstained towel.
"I think he has a hemorrhage." the mountain demon said to Bai Tsa, who approached them followed by Hsi Wu. Julia was still there a bit uneasy.
"Perhaps we should do what Jade suggested and take him to a hospital..." Hsi remarked and Valmont rose and supported himself with his elbows.
"No need to, I'm fine..." he said and when trying to get up, he yelped and was forced to lie again.
"I see." Bai Tsa turned to glance at her sister. "I will take him, then." she said and Po Kong nodded.
"I'll go too. I have to bring my slave back." Hsi Wu said and Julia finally turned to them, looking amused at him.
"Oh... I want to see that."
------
At the hospital, Jack was in a waiting room. Jade walked to him and he raised his glance to look at her. She knelt down in front of him and smiled.
"It's ok, Jack. The doctors said that none of them is in danger. They're sleeping right now, but we can take a look at them." she said and stood up. The boy also stood up and they headed to one of the rooms.
She opened the door and Jack sighed in relieve when seeing his father. Jackie looked to be all right, just sleeping peacefully.
Jade approached her uncle and sat in a chair beside the bed. She held his hand and smiled gratefully, though a bit guilty. He and the others had gone through all this trouble just to save her and Jack.
She glanced at his hand and then noted something written in his hand. It was the Chinese character of 'soul'. In fact, she remembered to have seen something in his forehead too. She brushed his hair away and leaned forward in the bed. She could see that something had been written in his forehead, but now it seemed to have almost vanished.
"Jack, stay here. I have to ask Uncle what happened."
Jade left the room and went straight to Uncle's room. She opened the door and saw he was still sleeping. She knew he was fine, but didn't want to wake him up. She sighed and thought she could ask him later.
She left Uncle's room and was going back to Jackie's but yelped in surprise when someone suddenly pulled her by her wrist to a small room.
"Hsi Wu? What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
She smiled and he kissed her. He couldn't say he was here to take her to the demons' hideout. At least not yet, or else she would never agree with it.
------
Bai Tsa opened the door of one of the rooms and mentally sighed in relieve when saw Valmont awake.
"How are you feeling?" she asked entering the room and he snorted.
"As if you cared..." he muttered bitterly and Bai Tsa slit her eyes, crossing her arms.
"I see. I did not expect a human to understand me."
"You have a point. I do not understand you. When we released you seven years ago, you didn't want to have anything with me, you ignored and despised me. And now you don't leave me alone." He also crossed his arms and looked to the opposite direction where she was.
"You were possessed by Shendu. I hate him as much as I hate Chan, you should thank me for not have killing you that time."
"So why do you want me now?"
"I do not want you. I want something else."
Valmont smiled self-confident.
"You lie."
"What do you mean?"
"You can have my money without forcing me to stay in that house. And you already released all the demons, so you don't need my money anymore."
Bai Tsa smirked suddenly looking much calmer than a moment ago.
"So typical of humans. Money means nothing to us demons."
Valmont turned pale.
"Then why..." he swallowed and didn't finish the sentence afraid of the answer. Bai Tsa sighed in frustration. Should she say her reasons?
No, on second thoughts she didn't have to explain anything. Then he yelped and she turned to look at him.
"What?"
"Nothing!"
"Let me see!" she demanded.
"No!" he shouted pushing her when she tried to approach more, making her lose her balance and almost falling on him. They lifted their look at the same time.
And stared at each other. They could not say how long it lasted, since it looked like the time had stopped. Bai Tsa on her human form was a beautiful woman, and being so close to her was dangerous and somehow... fascinating. Valmont swallowed and judging by the beats of his heart, could guess he was blushing a little.
"What are you two doing?!" Julia's voice surprised them and Bai Tsa almost fell completely on the man. The girl had just entered the room and they hadn't noticed her at all. Now she probably thought they were...
The water demon immediately stood back and also was blushing. Just her luck to be caught in such an embarrassing situation by a little girl.
"...N-Nothing..." Bai Tsa answered nervously, although trying to seem cold.
"Nothing?" Julia repeated in suspicion.
"Yes, I just lost my balance and this human happened to be in my way! What did you think we were doing?" Bai snapped and Julia glanced at her father.
"Just checking..." she muttered. Valmont and the water demon frowned, avoiding glancing at each other.
------
Few hours had passed and Jade was still with Hsi Wu. She never thought of how she missed him. It was strange, after all she hated him when she was a child and found out the truth about him. But she could forgive him now when he, the sky demon himself, was saying how he loved her.
Well, actually he wasn't saying anything, but she guessed it.
"Jaaaaaade!!!" Jack's voice was heard somewhere in the corridors of the hospital. Jade backed away and drew a deep breath. Jack couldn't see her here, kissing a demon. He had already seen too much some hours ago in the ruins of the Helm's Fish Cannery and was sure he would tell his parents about it. She could defend herself by saying that Hsi Wu forced her, but now it was clear that she wasn't being forced to kiss him. Besides, if he saw the sky demon, he could call his father and Uncle. And a new battle would begin at the hospital. That would not be good.
Jade glanced around herself and saw that they were close to a door.
"Hurry, enter here!" she whispered pushing him to inside the room before he could do or say anything. The following moment, Jack appeared in the corridor where she was.
"Jack, you shouldn't scream like that in a hospital." she scolded.
"Jade, I managed to take the horse talisman from Section 13! It can heal everybody!" the boy said lifting the talisman and Jade was impressed. She didn't think that Jack would invade Section 13's vault and 'borrow' a talisman.
"Jack... how did you...?"
"I learned with you."
Jade smiled proudly.
"Very good, Jack. Then let's heal them. You go first, I'll catch you up." she said and he nodded. When he went in one of the rooms, Hsi Wu opened the door and Jade looked at him.
"You could also heal sister Bai's slave. Then she will go away sooner."
"You mean Valmont?" she asked remembering he was still prisoner of the demons. He was an enemy, but had already helped her when she was also prisoner in that house. And Jade wasn't heartless, she knew how bad was to be prisoner of a demon.
------
After healing almost everybody, Jade finally arrived at the last room, where Paco was sleeping. She opened the door and activated the power of the talisman to heal him. The boy opened his eyes a bit confused and looked at Jade.
"Jade!"
"Paco, are you ok?" she asked in worry and Paco rose to sit in the bed.
"Yes, I am... but what about you?" he wanted to know and Jade laughed, rolling her eyes.
"I'm ok, but it wasn't me who got hit by an explosion of dark chi." she answered and Paco smile.
"Then you are all right... How good..." he said holding her hand and Jade widened her eyes. "It's been a long time since we met. You grew up, became more mature and pretty..." he said blushing just like Jade, who didn't know what she should say.
"...P-Paco, I..." she stuttered but Paco continued speaking.
"You know, Jade... I finally realized I... I..." he hesitated and on that moment Hsi Wu quietly opened a bit the door, without being noticed. He was surprised and angry when seeing the two humans together. What was Jade doing with that human? Was he really holding Jade's hand? His Jade?
Hsi Wu's eyes glowed red and he was ready to rip him apart... if Jackie has not appeared in the corridor heading to Paco's room. Fortunately Hsi got to hide at the next before the archaeologist could see it.
"Jade, are you-" Jackie said opening the door completely and stopped when he saw Paco holding Jade's hand. "Oh, sorry... I... didn't know you were... I didn't want to interrupt." Jackie said nervously. Since the last Valentine's Day, he had always thought that Jade and Paco would make a good couple. Now he could have ruined everything.
"Jackie, it's nothing you're thinking!" Jade said quickly when Jackie was about to leave. "I just came to heal Paco with the horse talisman! Now that he is fine, I have to take it back to Section 13, right?" she explained smiling nervously and left the room. Jackie stared confused at her but didn't say anything. He looked at Paco and the boy just shrugged. Jade closed the door and sighed heavily. She had never expected that Paco would act like that.
"Jade..." a low hissing voice called behind her and the Chinese girl turned to face Hsi Wu. "What were you and that mortal doing just a moment ago?" he asked seriously.
"What mortal? You mean Jackie?" she asked trying to pretend she didn't know what he was talking about, but he frowned angry.
"You know I mean that other mortal. You called him 'Paco'."
Jade shrugged.
"We weren't doing anything, just talking."
"Don't lie to me, Jade!"
"I'm not lying!" she shouted and looked away. Hsi Wu looked at her in suspicion and Jade remembered the talisman. "So? Where is Valmont?" she asked to change the subject and Hsi sighed.
"Not very far. Follow me ".
------
"Viper." Captain Black called entering her room. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, thanks to the horse talisman."
"Horse talisman?"
"Uh... Never mind."
Captain Black shook his head. Jade must have taken it from the vault again. "Where's Jackie."
"He was looking for Jade." she answered and he nodded, smiling.
"Take care." he said before leaving.
Black began to wander for the corridor having absolutely no idea of where he could find Jackie. He would have gone back to the Viper's room, but gave up the idea when he saw Jade going in one of the rooms. He smiled and followed her.
------
"Talisman?!" Bai Tsa confirmed and her youngest brother nodded.
"It will heal your slave so that we can go back to our hideout."
"Then the Chan family has already been healed too. Hsi Wu, get her to our hideout now." Bai Tsa demanded crossing her arms and Jade widened her eyes, retreating some steps.
"To be your prisoner again? No way!"
"Hurry, Hsi! We cannot take any risks! If you let her go, she will tell her relatives where we are hiding!"
"Hsi Wu! I don't want to go!" Jade stood behind the sky demon as if he would protect her.
"Well, I think-" Hsi started but was interrupted.
"Are you going to take orders from a human?"
"Uh... Could you argue after giving me the horse talisman?" Valmont interrupted.
"Silence!" Bai yelled and when Jade opened the door to run away, Captain Black was standing in the door.
"Captain Black!" Jade said in surprise and for some minutes he could just stare at the people in the room. Two criminals of the Dark Hand and two unknown people, who probably worked to Valmont. Since he did not know where the other members of J-Team were, he did the only thing he could. Take the weapon he had kept in his coat to aim it at the two standing adults.
"Freeze!" he shouted and glanced at Jade. "Jade, come here."
"Stupid human!" Hsi Wu hissed and he and his sister charged at Black. Because the room was not very large, Jade was pushed middle of the mess and Black got to shoot at the water demon, not having any effect.
"What? Impossible!" Black yelled in disbelief when seeing that the woman had not suffered anything. Hsi Wu kicked the weapon in the man's hand and it dropped far away from his reach. Black then took a fighting position and got ready to face the duo, although he was not as skilled in martial arts as Jackie.
"Captain Black!" Jade screamed concerned and when was about to help him, Valmont pulled her by her arm.
"Wait! Give me the talisman first!" he demanded grabbing the talisman in her hand and Jade tried to pull it back.
"So that you can help the demons to defeat Captain Black? No way! I gotta help him!"
Meanwhile Black was fighting against the two demons in their human forms, breaking and dropping several objects. Julia looked very annoyed and finally stood up from her chair. The rage she was feeling activated the power of the jewel and if it wasn't for the tiger talisman, it would have been corrupted. Instead, Julia's body began to glow and the symbol of the jewel appeared in her forehead.
"Stop that!!! You are so acting like children!!!" she shouted as aloud and she could and the glowing expanded until filling the whole room. When it returned to normal, everybody could see what had happened. Julia now looked to be twelve years old, and was taller than everyone there!
"What happened?" Bai Tsa asked completely confused.
"I think we shrank..." Hsi Wu said unsure and when they glanced at the humans, widened their eyes and looked at each other.
"No, I think that actually... we..." Bai said in desperation.
"We are children again!!!" Jade screamed placing her hands in her head and Valmont opened his eyes, holding the talisman with his right hand and smiled in victory.
"Finally." he said, but then glanced around himself and noted what was happening.
"Gimme that!" Jade took the talisman of his hand and pressed it several times. "Ahh! It's not working!"
"No, it' can't be! Let me try!" Valmont said taking the talisman back and trying to activate it. "Come on! Come on!" he muttered but didn't obtain any result.
"You! You did this! I demand you to turn us back to normal!" Bai Tsa yelled pointing at Julia, who smiled self-confident.
"Make me." the girl answered just flicking on the water demon's head, fell on her youngest brother.
"Jade! I am... a child!" Captain Black said in horror, staring at his hands, and Jade frowned.
"Alright, Julia. That was not funny. Turn us back to adults now."
"I don't believe... I didn't know I could transform you without making any effort... This jewel is great!" Julia said to herself, ignoring her friend.
"Now see here, I already had my back-to-childhood experience when I met that stupid wizard! I order you to change us back!" Valmont demanded and Julia glared at him.
"Why should I obey you?"
"Because I am your father!"
"You don't give me orders anymore." she replied tapping his head and Valmont clenched his fists. Julia laughed her body began to glow again. "I think now I will have a good time outside." she said and floated through the window. The whole group tried to follow her, but stopped in front of the window.
"Julia!! Come back here!!!" Valmont shouted. They all turned around when someone opened the door and looked at them in shock.
"Jackie! Help!" Jade screamed and Black ran to his friend.
"Jackie! You have to help me! I am a child again!" he said.
"You got to be kidding...!" Jackie said still very shocked.
"Jackie, what was that noise-" Uncle asked coming in was as surprised when saw the scene. "AAAIIIIYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!" his scream echoed three times for the whole city, almost deafening the occupants of the room.
To be continued...