Chapter 16

THREE MONTHS LATER

Raimundo looked off into the distant setting sun. What a simple yet complex being… Made of only gas, yet was almost single-handedly responsible for over thirty billion human lives…

"Need a hand?" Clay asked from behind him.

He closed his eyes and smiled, "I do have a door, you know."

The cowboy crossed his arms, "Well, now why would I cause you all the unnecessary trouble of gettin' up?"

A sudden gust of wind slammed the door shut. Rai turned and looked at him, a smirk on his face, "I don't have to get up."

Taking hold of his crutches, he pulled himself up. "And as to your other offer, I'm getting used to these things. My leg's getting stronger, and my chest doesn't hurt so much."

"Well…if you don't need anything, I'll see you outside. I wonder what Master Fung wants to tell us?"

Rai thought back to when Dojo had come to his room earlier, and told him Master Fung wanted to see all of them this afternoon. There had been no sign on the small dragon's face, as to what the man wanted. "I have no idea, Clay"

But that giant of a cowboy had already left.

Letting his guard down, Raimundo collapsed painfully in his chair, his crutches falling to the floor. His side was in ferocious agony and so was his leg and fingers! His internal injuries had healed quickly, but his bones were slower than ever. The only way he was able to stand, was using his power and control over the wind element, to support him.

"Still hurts, huh?

Spinning around, he saw Kimiko leaning in his doorway. She came toward him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "It's okay; it's what makes you, human."

He looked away shamefully, "I'm not strong enough…" But he felt her turn his face back toward her.

He looked into those twin pools of cool blue water, as her enchanted voice said, "That's why I love you."

She gave him a small kiss, then helping him stand up again, said, "Just take it one step at of time. You'll be fine. I believe in you, and so do the others. You may not be strong of body, but you are strong of spirit!"

He nodded sharply, strangely renewed by her words.

She glanced over him, making sure his appearance was okay. She stopped at the white sash wrapped around his waist.

Rai began to laugh when he saw what she was looking at. "Don't worry, Chiquita. My mastery of my powers is growing! In a couple of years, I might even be head to head with you."

She fingered her own sash, "You are already head to head with me."

He placed his good hand on her shoulder, "It was a sacrifice that I made of my own choice. I have few regrets."

She sighed a small grin, "Well we might as well get out there. They'll be wondering."

"Lead the way, mi Sol Chica."

She frowned "Why do you call me 'your Sun Girl'?"

"Because, you simply keep me alive."

"What?"

He merely smiled at her, and limped out the door.

Master Fung paced in front of his greatest students, all in complete uniform and looking like military soldiers. Even the Servant of Wind stood tall, holding his crutches close to him.

He cleared his throat, then turned his back to them, "Chosen ones, it shall be four years ago, today, in which you first came to our door. You have been through much together, and have learned much as well. You have risen in the ranks as you mastered your Xiaolin skills. You have had blunders, and mistakes. There were times I even thought you would dishonor all Grand Master Dashi stood for. You all have shamed me, many times in the past, but now…!" He turned to face them, a stern look on his face. The warriors stood uncomfortable, trying to remember what they did wrong this time.

It was then that the sternness began to melt away, and a gentle softness came to his face, as he looked upon each of them fondly. The warriors looked at each other confused.

"But now, I can't say how proud I am, to have been your teacher! I feel for each of you as if you were my own son or daughter. You four have changed the world, and saved countless lives. You have gone through the ranks of Servant, Dragon-in-Training, Dragon Apprentice, and Wudai Warrior. I am very proud of you all, and because of you're hard work and efforts, there is a small gift I wish to bestow on you…" With a quick snap of his fingers, new sashes instantly appeared around their waists. The sashes were yellow, the color of bright champagne. "You all came here with nothing, now, you leave as Wudai Dragons."

The realization and excitement hit all of them like lightning! Wudai Dragons! They had finally reached their goal! They began to give each other high fives and slap each other on the back, but Omi stopped them short, "Wait, What about Raimundo?"

The three turned and saw their comrade and friend standing stock still, examining his new sash. It too, was yellow.

Rai looked up at Master Fung, "Master, I think you made a mistake. I'm only a servant, remember? Mine should be black."

Lao-Tai Fung walked toward his student, standing in front of him, he looked over Raimundo with tender and affectionate eyes. "All of you have grown since you came here. You've grown both in body and spirit. But none have grown, as much as you Raimundo. If anyone deserves this promotion, it's you."

Rai felt moisture on his cheek. Was he—crying!

Lao-Tai took the boy in his embracing arms, "Through your selfless sacrifice, the world was saved. You were willing to give your life several times, in order to save those you loved. In this moment, I could never be more proud, to have you as a student and—a son."

Rai pushed away in shock, but there was no mockery on his master's face.

"Yes, it's true Raimundo. I've taken the liberty of adopting you, if you'll have me?"

Rai thought back to all of those times, as a child, he was stuck out in the rain, living in the alleys and gutters; hungry and wet, he wondered what a family felt like. What was it like to have parents or siblings? Someone who cared about you? Now, after all these years? It was too good to be true!

Lao-Tai was almost knocked down by Rai's embrace. He laughed aloud, "Well! I guess that's a yes!"

Rai felt a hand on his shoulder, looking around he saw Omi, who was beaming with joy. "Welcome to the family. I'm glad you agreed Raimundo! For now, we are brothers!"

He looked at him confused, "What are you talking about?"

Dojo laughed, "Master Fung has decided to adopt both you—and Omi! You guys are legal brothers now."

Rai looked again at the Chinese warrior, "You knew?"

Clay came and helped him back on his fallen crutches, "We all did. Congratulations, hombre!"

"You covered it very well!"

"Well, that's what a Wudai Dragon does."

Master Fung smoothed down his rumpled clothes, "To gain two sons in a day, only to lose them the next."

Everyone turned to him confused, but Omi spoke the question aloud, "What do you mean, Master?"

"Like a child graduates from grammar school, and goes on to high school; you four have also graduated. I'm sending you to a new temple, in which you will gain not only complete knowledge of the Xiaolin arts, but also of other martial art techniques that will help you in the fight against evil."

Kimiko spoke up, "A new temple?"

"Yes, in the Shang-lei Hills of the Dark Mists. There you shall meet your new master and teacher: Master Li Kakashi Kama. He is a good friend of mine, and shall help you attain the next four ranks: Master, Elemental Dragon, Master of the Arts, and Grand Master Dragon. Not many rise above the rank of Wudai Dragon, and there have been only four who have achieved the rank of Grand Master Dragon, these four are called the 'Four Elements'. I am only of 'Master' rank, and Master Kama has the rank of 'Master of the Arts', yet I believe you four are the Chosen Ones, destined to become the next Four Elements. You will still gather the lost Shen Gong Wu, in order to keep them out of the hands of evil, but your main purpose now is to develop your skills, so that you may be able to protect the earth. It will be a difficult road, filled with many twists and dangers, but I believe you can do it! I believe in all of you!"

Clay and Omi stood next to each other in the Mess Hall, leaning on the window seal and looking up at the starry sky. The night wind caressed their shoulders with a gentle breeze.

"What are you thinking, Clay?" Omi asked.

The blond continued to look at the sky, "I'm wonderin' if I've got as much guts as Master Fung says I do."

"Master Fung believes in us. I guess…we should too."

Clay looked around at him, "Shouldn't you call him Father or somethin' now?"

Omi shrugged, "It's habit. He's still my master."

He looked back at the sky, "Not for much longer. When are we supposed to leave?"

"Once Raimundo is fully healed and able to walk on his own, without the use of his powers."

"Where is that new brother of yours? Is he still outside?"

"He's had a lot put on him today. He needs a shoulder to lean on. A young Japanese one, to be correct."

"That's 'to be exact'."

"Whatever"

"I still can't believe it, Chiquita."

Raimundo sat on a bench by the pond, still amazed by the day's events. Kimiko was by his side, happy that he was happy.

"You know, four months ago, you didn't have anything…not even a name. Now you have an identity, prestige, family, friends, and people who really love you. You're the richest man I could ever know."

Rai smiled and remembered how Wuya tried to make him doubt Kimiko's love, because of his poor background. Yet, now that was the one thing that drew her to him.

"I owe it all to you, my love. You saved my life. Sí, amor, it was all because of you."

She blushed and turned away, "It's almost scary to go to a new temple. I just got used to this one. Are you ready?"

He took her hand in his, "It'll be a new experience, and I know you can do it. I love you, and wherever you go, I will go. We'll tackle this new challenge together. The one thing I don't get, is how you kept today's surprises from me?"

"It would have spoiled it! And I gave you a hint!"

He thought back confused, "When? I don't remember you giving a hint."

She pulled his head around to meet hers, "I said: 'You are already head to head with me'. Remember?"

The scene came back to him, then hitting himself in the forehead, "Oh yeah! It was right in front of me the whole time."

"Rai?"

"Yes, amor mío?"

"We're head to head now…"

He held her chin with a gentle, yet firm grasp. Her eyes sparkled in the night like two enchanted lagoons, "I know. I was just waiting for an invitation."

Kimiko looked into the eyes of her beloved; to her they were like twin emeralds gleaming in the moonlight, "You have one now, Señor Vega."

Taking her into his arms, he kissed her waiting lips with his own. The two lovers intimately shared that kiss in the light of the moon, for as long as they dared. Entangled in a passionate embrace, a fragrant night wind swirled around them, one that was interwoven, with subtle blue flames.