Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin showdown.
Chapter five
Kimiko was startled out of sleep, yet again by the sound of Raimundo weeping. It had been two months since Daeva had been trapped in the Yin-Yang world, and he still felt terrible for what had happened. Kimiko sighed and got up and then went into Raimundo's cubicle, Omi was there, trying to comfort his friend.
"Do not cry, dear friend, you had to do it, or the world would not exist as we know it. Feel pride in that accomplishment." Omi would say every morning. Kimiko heard a sigh behind her, and turned to see Clay standing there. He rolled his eyes at Raimundo's predicted reaction. Raimundo, every morning would shove Omi out the way and storm off. And, as usual, Omi said;
"What did I say?"
Kimiko went in and pulled Omi to his feet.
"Everything, Omi. You have to be very careful." She said, glaring at the little monk. Omi looked a bit hurt.
"Why don't we just go and talk to the Master Fung?" Clay suggested, quietly. Omi brightened.
"Yes, why don't we?."
They found Master Fung seated at a low table, having a cup of tea. Master Fung was looking out over the garden at where Raimundo was seated with the two wolves, who had decided to stay with Raimundo. Raimundo had told them that the wolves considered him to be part of their pack, so they would not abandon him. The two wolves were surprisingly friendly and helped with their training. They could still transform into the far more powerful beast in which they were fond of. Raimundo, they had noticed, could still talk to them, and, much to their disapproval, use Heylin magic. There had been no Shen gon wu since the imprisonment of Daeva, and that was just as well, as Raimundo didn't respond to their efforts to cheer him up. He remained quiet and withdrawn and occasionally, especially in the mornings, cried. They had to find out was wrong with him.
"Master Fung?" Omi said, approaching the old man.
"Yes, young monk?"
"What's wrong with Raimundo? He defeated Daeva, but he acts as if it's the worst thing he has ever done." Omi said, glancing at Raimundo. Master Fung looked at Omi, and sighed.
"It was a terrible thing to do to someone you love." Was his reply. Omi looked confused.
"The Heylin sceptre suppressed his Heylin personality, so the Raimundo personality broke through. And, even though he loved her, he knew what he had to do." Master Fung explained.
"Wait, are you telling me that Raimundo has two personalities?" Clay asked, surprised.
"Yes; Raimundo and Diomedes."
"Well, that explains a lot." Clay said quietly.
"What do we do to cheer him up?" Kimiko asked.
"Keep him company and make it clear to him that you are his friends, for he feels alone and afraid. Also, make it seem that you do not notice his depression." Master Fung said. How depressing, thought Kimiko.
Later, all three decided to do what Master Fung had advised. They walked outside to where Raimundo sat, cross legged, near a rose bush. He was in deep conversation with the two wolves. He looked very depressed.
"Hello, Raimundo friend." Omi said cheerfully. Raimundo glanced at the boy and he stopped talking to the wolves. Clay sat down next to Raimundo with a plate full of beef steaks, dripping in barbecue sauce. He offered Raimundo some, who declined. Clay shrugged and offered Kimiko and Omi some, who refused as well. He shrugged again and threw a couple of slices at the wolves, who started to eat them.
"They say thank you." Raimundo said quietly. Clay took his hat off to the two wolves.
Kimiko felt a chill at that; she found it unnerving that Raimundo could talk to them.
"Can you really talk to them?" Omi asked, as if Raimundo was not depressed.
"Yes." Raimundo replied.
"Can you teach me?" Omi asked. Raimundo looked at the monk, surprised. Clay chuckled and Kimiko laughed. Omi stood there smiling at Raimundo. Raimundo smiled sadly back. Well, it wasn't much, but it was a start.
"Yes," Kimiko said. "You can teach all of us." Raimundo blushed slightly, since they were embarrassing him.
"It must be very interesting to be able to talk to animals in their own language." Omi carried on. Raimundo shrugged. Kimiko sat crossed legged in front of Raimundo. He looked thinner then she had remembered, and his eyes were sad. He hardly ever smiled and he now doesn't even correct Omi with his slang. He had changed ever since he had worked with Daeva. He hardly ever talked and now he never asserted himself. Kimiko missed the old Raimundo. He made her laugh; now he depressed her.
"Would you like to train Raimundo?" Omi asked. Raimundo shook his head. Omi frowned.
"How about football?" Again Raimundo shook his head. Omi sighed. Then he suddenly grabbed the front of Raimundo's robe and shook him.
"Pull yourself up!" Omi shouted. Kimiko winced.
"It's 'together'." Raimundo said, glaring at Omi. Omi looked at Raimundo, puzzled. Kimiko laughed. Omi looked at her, hurt. Omi then let go of Raimundo's robe and stood pouting.
"Raimundo said it's 'pull yourself together', not 'pull yourself up'." Clay explained. Omi's mouth made an 'O' shape in surprise. Kimiko felt a little better; Raimundo was making some effort to correct Omi, as in the past two months he hadn't said a thing. Then Kimiko asked hesitantly;
"Do you regret what you did?" Raimundo looked at her, his face unreadable. He ducked his head and she heard him say
"Yes."
"We are here for you, you know." She added. He looked up at her. And he smiled at her, a genuine smile.
"I suppose I should pull myself together." Raimundo said quietly. Omi leapt on him and hugged him. Then jumped down again. The she-wolf got up and licked Raimundo's face. Raimundo scratched the wolf's ear.
Later, Raimundo was soundly asleep, for once not tossing and turning like he had for the last two months. Kimiko, Omi, Clay and Master Fung were sitting in one of the dining areas.
"Good work, young monks." Master Fung said.
"It took a little thinking, but we managed it." Was Clay's response.
The next morning, Kimiko, Omi, Clay and Raimundo sat in the garden, talking and laughing. Though Raimundo not as much as the others.
Then Dojo slithered up to them. He was dragging the scroll of Dashi after him.
"We have a new Shen gon wu." He announced. They stood up. Omi turned to Raimundo.
"Do you want to come along?"
"I would come even if you had chained me to the shen gon wu vault!" Raimundo grinned.