Chapter 15

Clay awoke with a start. The sun was shining full force through the window. It must be near noon, he thought, as he stretched his limbs. Looking around, he found himself alone. He had fallen asleep in that hospitality chair, exhausted and worn-out. He often thought of how easy it would be, to just leave this outfit and go back to his comfortable Texas—but he shook his head all the same. Texas would always be his home, but his life had changed. He would no longer be able to simply slip back into the life he had left behind, he was a different person, that was more experienced and mature.

He sat up and walked to get some water from the cooler. Going outside the back door of the hospital, he saw Omi meditating on the grounds. Looking at his Chinese friend's smudged, haggard face, soiled and burnt clothes, and his tired figure, he said simply. "You look awful."

Without opening his eyes, he answered back, "You don't look so warm, yourself."

"That's 'so hot'."

"Same difference."

Clay imagined he did look bad. Torn black pants, blood-stained white t-shirt, and his body could feel the pain of several bruises. "I need a nice hot shower."

A raindrop hit his shoulder, followed by a sudden cloudburst, but unlike all other cloudbursts, this one was hot and steamy. Looking around at Omi, who was still meditating but physically enjoying the water, he smiled, "Thanks, hombre. This hits the spot."

Omi, who of course, had started and manipulated the shower, smiled back at him. "Glad to be of assistance."

After washing up and getting all the kinks out, Omi and Clay, washed their uniforms then dried them in the sun. Clay asked, while dressing, "Where's the others?"

Omi exercised his limbs, "Master Fung and Dojo went back to the temple to return the Wu. Dojo will return at noon to take us home."

Clay looked straight at him, "I'm not going back. Not until I know more about Rai."

He nodded, "That's what I told him."

Clay looked down at his feet, "Speaking of which, where's Kimi?

Omi looked at him confused, "Wasn't she inside?"

"No, I was alone…" the Texan covered his face and sighed in understanding, "She's been with, him, all night."

Kimiko awoke to the bright rays of sunlight, streaming through the windows. Sitting up, she wiped sleep out her eyes. As the morning fogginess cleared, the events of the last 24 hours ran through her mind. She must have fallen asleep by Raimundo's bedside!

Touching his arm, she noticed that, the strange coldness she had felt last night, was no longer there. Was that a good thing, or bad?

"Good Morning, Sleepyhead."

The voice shocked her out of any haziness left by dreams' first hour! Daring to look up, she saw he had taken off his breathing mask, his gentle eyes looking back at her, a soft smile on his lips.

"Ra-ai-imundo?" tears coming unbidden, as well as the trembling in her voice. Was this real, or a creation from her dreams? How did that lyric go, 'Am I making believe I'm seeing you, a man to perfect too be really true? Do I want you because your wonderful? Or are you wonderful, because I want you? Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream, or are you really as wonderful as you seem?'

She reached out to touch his face, "Raimundo?"

Flesh met with flesh, and he was still there! He answered her, "Yeah, It's me."

A flood of joy, such as was never known to her heart, washed over Kimiko. Throwing her arms around him, her already cracked dam of emotions burst in full force, her voice was warbled with feeling and relief, "Oh Rai! Don't do that to me again! Ever since you left us two years ago, I've felt something was missing from my life; there was a hole in my heart. Then, when I found you by that river, not only did I feel that I was whole again for the first time in a long time, but I also felt something that hadn't been there before. That 'something', was what led me to help, guard, and protect you…even from my own teammates. That 'something', was what gave me the strength to fight against Wuya. That 'something' made me trust you, even when no one else did." Releasing her hold, she looked into his eyes; Rai had never seen such enchanting sapphires, in any of the seven seas. Continuing, she said, "I didn't know what that something was—that is—until today. That something was…love."

Uncomfortable with the situation, she let go and sat back in the chair, she had never said it face to face before. Looking down, she simply said, "I-I guess what I'm trying to say, is…well…I love you—Rai…"

Except for the beeps and hums of the monitors, silence held the room so that you could even hear the fluid of the IV drip-drip-drip…

Kimi felt his right hand cover her left. "If it hadn't been for you…I wouldn't have had the strength to fight. I would have probably died back in that cave, or have succumbed to Wuya's will. I owe my life, and my heart, to you."

She sobbed out a smile, "In my country, you don't get a gift without giving one. As the song goes, 'take my heart, and please don't break it. Love was made for me and you.'"

"I never would, Chiquita novia."

A small giggle came to her throat, (Wow, that wasn't like her! Oh man, this Brazilian Stallion brought out such interesting-and wonderful-things from her) "What does that mean, exactly?"

He began to smile that smile, the smile he knew she couldn't resist. Pulling her closer to him, he said, "Let me show you…"

He gently took her delicate chin, and pulled her face close to his own. Hesitating, but only for a second, he touched his lips to hers.

She was surprised at first, but Kimiko could feel the hot insatiable vitality at that slight connection. Her first kiss! She closed her eyes, as if to savor the warm moment. Electric jolts ran up her arms and hands, incredible! But just as she felt it come, she could feel it go, as he began to move away, unsure. Opening her eyes, she whispered, "Oh, no you don't, Vega!"

Raimundo felt sharp pain shoot up his side, as the girl of his dreams, grabbed his head and pulled him forward. However, the sting was worth it! The feel of her passionate kiss, struck a spark in his body that could outweigh any hurt! Wow! For the first time, this was not only intense, but breathtaking, on so many levels! It was a feeling of such intense ecstasy! Something like this only existed in his dreams! He didn't want to let go!

The two stayed in their embrace…for what seemed like eternity…

"Ahem…" The sound of a throat clearing itself sounded behind them, breaking the intimate silence. Both heads turned toward the sound.

Leaning in the doorway, Clay stood smiling roguishly, his arms crossed; his blond hair, combed but uncut, covered his left eye. Down by his waist, Omi leaned out, beaming brightly with heavy blush coming to his cheeks.

Kimiko scrambled off the bed to her seat, face coming to a flush. Raimundo sat back exultant, beyond the care of embarrassment.

The Texan cowboy shook his head, disbelievingly grinning. "Well, look who decided to get on up this mornin'? You look worse than a kitten at a dog fight!"

"Well you're no beam of sunshine yourself. How're things goin' Clay?" the Brazilian smiled back.

"That's my line, hombre. You really had me worried for a while there."

"Sorry about that, mi hermano. Can you forgive me?"

"What for?"

"I almost let you down. I almost gave up on all of you. I was selfish, and thought only of myself. ¡lo siento!"

Clay smiled and shook his head again, walking over to the bedside. Taking his hat, and placed it back on his head. "Notice the key word you said was 'almost'. You didn't let us down, and you didn't give up, and if anyone ever calls you 'selfish', I'll ram my fist down their godforsaken throat, and break their worthless spine."

Omi, who had been quiet until now, joined in, "I'm very glad to have you back, Raimundo. Though I hate to admit it…it was never the same since you left. But don't think I'll be easy on you! Once you get back on your legs, it will be back to work as usual."

"That's 'back on your feet' and 'back to business as usual'." he answered back. A slight tremble to his words, Rai could feel his strength beginning to wane. He began to cough, slightly at first, but it quickly progressed into an incontrollable hack.

Kimiko jumped up at once, "Omi, go get the doctor. Rai got a little carried away with his wind powers."

Trying to control his throat, he looked up at her wryly, "Y-you knew?" Those words set him off again, his throat closing and his eyes tearing up with the effort.

"Shhh, you're going to hurt yourself, and yes, I knew. Think about it Rai! You just had a major operation, on a badly injured lung! The only possible, conceivable way for you to have actually talked this long without aid, was for you to have used your powers to help guide your damaged lungs." She smiled warmly at him, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. In doing so, absorbed the extra heat from his oncoming fever into her body, making him less agitated and relax.

Raimundo felt the corners of his mouth lift slightly, as his vision began to cloud. "Y-you…think you're…s-so s-s-smart. T-that's why I-I…that's why I love you…"

Kimiko kissed his cheek as he fell asleep. Placing his breathing mask back on, she turned away, just as the doctor came in asking, "How is he?"

Looking back at him, she replied, "He's getting his rest. Call me, at this number, when he awakens or if his condition changes." Handing him her card, she followed Clay and Omi out the room.

When she got outside, she was stunned by the sun and its stunning brilliance. And not just that! The entire sky, if not the entire world, seems as if it has been reborn! Like it now shines with this renewed radiance and vivacity! What a difference one day makes!