Dead A/N: Wow. Lotsa reviews!
Dead Jack: You killed me. What did you expect?
Dead A/N: (shrugs) Review time, Jackie-poo.
Megga B: It had some moments in the beginning that were funny, but I didn't know it would get so sad. Mmph.
Mooneasterbunny: You won't be confused for much longer.
Dead Jack: I'm always confused!
Dead A/N: That you are.
Freddyphone: Hold your horses! Goodness!
Bewarethedarkness: (shrug) I try.
Akiko: First of all: You are too smart for your own good. Second of all: No. I actually worked real hard on the dialogue to make sure they didn't sound gay. I failed.
Dead Jack: You always fail.
Dead A/N: (whacks him) Now, plugging: Read my brother's fic, Reality Band.His penname is mutantllama.The fic's surprisingly funny.
Dead Jack: I know you're going to say this anyway, so: Emily does not own Xiaolin Showdown in any way, shape, or form.
Dead A/N: Good Jackie-poo. You win a pudding cup.
Dead Jack: PUDDING CUP!
Title: Not Half Bad
Rating: T
Summary: When Clay has an accident, there's only one person there who can help him. Can worst enemies learn to be friends?
Clay stood in a black dress shirt and black jeans at the side of a wooden casket. He had his thumbs hooked into his belt loops and had tear stains on his face. He laid his right hand on the smooth oak and began to cry again.
A tanned hand put itself on top of Clay's. "He's not coming back," said the Brazilian accented voice of his friend and leader.
"I know," said Clay, wiping the back of his left hand across his face. "I just don't want t' know."
"If only we had the Necklace of Jinai," said Dojo.
"What?" said Clay unbelievingly. He looked up.
"The Necklace of Jinai," Dojo repeated. "It has the power to bring anyone who'd died in the past twenty-four hours back to life, completely healed of all previous injuries. But we don't have it."
"We do have it," said Clay. He grabbed a chain around his neck and brought out a little gold cross inlaid with a clear crystal. He pulled it off, holding it in his hand.
Clay took a deep breath and pushed the coffin lid off. Jack did not look like he was sleeping, like most people say about people in coffins. Jack looked very much dead. Clay's heart sank. What if it didn't work?
Clay took the necklace and placed it over Jack's stab mark.
"Clay, be warned," said Dojo, "each person can only use it once, so use it wisely."
"This is the wisest use I know," he said. "NECKLACE OF JINAI!" It started glowing and Jack's wounds started pressing back together. Clay held Jack's still cold hand, praying it would work.
"Clay?" asked a little whisper.
"Jack?" asked Clay. He brushed his bangs aside so he could look into his best friend's eyes. They had life in them.
"Clay!"
"Jack!" He picked him up and hugged him. Jack flung his arms around his neck. "You're alive!" hollered Clay.
"I'm alive," he whispered. "I'm alive," he repeated, louder. He let go of Clay and raised his arms in a 'praise the Lord' gesture. "I'M ALIVE!" he yelled. He put his arms down and said, "Wait—I'm alive?"
Clay put him down and picked up the Necklace of Jinai. "This is what we were battling over when I got my scar. Everything started happening, so I guess we just forgot about it. Each person can only use it once, and I used it on you. 'Cause…even a best friend don't deserve to take a bullet meant for me."
"Thanks, Clay," said Jack, hugging his best friend again. Raimundo just smiled.
"I got a surprise, guys!" said Clay. The Dragons of Fire and Water gave each other surprised looks. Clay's best friend had died, and he sounded so chipper.
Clay and Raimundo walked in, followed by the one and only Jack Spicer, who was picking little clots of dried blood out of his hair. It was pretty gross, to be truthful.
"Am I hallucinating, or is this a dream, or what?" asked Kimiko, pretty freaked out. She rounded on Rai. "What did you put in my water!"
Rai grinned. "Nothing. You're pretty cute when you're angry." He was lying, of course.She looked like nine times of hell when she was angry, but a little flirting couldn't hurt.
She backed down, a furious blush forming on her face. "You are the boldest flirt I know, Raimundo Pedrosa." She awkwardly pushed a few strands of hair back into place.
"To answer your question," said Jack when the awkward silence became too much, "I'm real."
"I am most confused," said Omi perplexedly.
"The Necklace of Jinai!" said Dojo, who'd regained his rightful place atop Clay's hat. "It revives anyone."
"For a price," said Master Fung, walking in. "Each person can only use it once." He tilted his head at Clay. "Are you sure you used it properly, young monk?"
"I'm sure," he replied.
"If you are sure," said Master Fung, "then I welcome the new Dragon of Lightning." He gave Jack a little bow. Jack bowed back.
Clay thought back to the Jack three years ago: friendless and helpless. He also thought back to himself two years ago: the exact same way. He marveled at how much they'd progressed. Now, here they were, on the verge of another great adventure. Jack smiled, and Clay winked, and both had a hope that this happiness would never end.
A/N: Ah, this fic is almost over.
Jack: Clay! (runs at him)
Clay: Jack! (catches him)
A/N: No! No Brokeback!
Jack and Clay: (look at each other) (look at Emily) EEEEEWWWW!
Clay: (drops Jack)
A/N: Good Clay. Only the epilogue after this, my peeps. R and R and tell me if there should be a sequel.
Jack: Sequel? Oooh!
Clay: Um…(backs away slowly)