XIAOLIN SHOWDOWN - "The Choices We Make"

by Stephen R. Sobotka Jr. / 2006

DISCLAIMER : Xiaolin Showdown is the creation of Christi Hui / Warner Bros. Animation; all characters of this story -- with the exception of any original characters that I created -- are the property of said licenses, and WB Television Animation, and are used here without knowledge or permission of same. This story was produced to entertain fans of the original show, and is in no way, shape or form intended to be published for monetary gain. Please do not sue.

This story is an original prose based on situations and themes from the original "Xiaolin Showdown" animated series. This story is the rightful property of the author; all original characters and the plot depicted within are protected by copyright law.

AUTHOR'S NOTES : I wrote this because it irks me that, out of all the XS fanfics out there, the general focus is on Rai/Kimiko 'shippers. So, don't hate me if I feel that the little fiery gal from Japan would be better off with a certain big boy from Texas.

Comments are most welcome, so please DO comment!

Enjoy the story! - SRS Jr

CHOICES

Chapter 2

It was like a nightmare...

Kimiko watched the fighting unfolding.

Omi and Chase Young were clashing over the center of the courtyard...

Raimundo was whirling like a dervish, sending stone golems flying apart with the Sword of Storms...

Before Kimiko could react, or act, the Heylin witch Wuya had emerged from the wall of flames in front of her... her face twisted with evil glee, as she reached back beside her tall, lithe body to gather her power.

"Time to die, Little Dragon!"

Kimiko felt her body freeze in place. Despite what she felt -- fear, dread and shock -- an inner fire boiled up from deep inside her head; no, no-no-no-NO! Not again! Don't make me see this! Not again!

But, it came to pass... the cry of desperation. The charge across the courtyard, Clay's last act of defense... facing the teeth of Wuya's deadly attack, as he shoved Kimiko aside. That echoing cry of terror and pain...

And then, she was in the temple infirmary... standing at the foot of Clay's deathbed, while the other Xiaolin stood like morbid sentinels around his lifeless body.

No! she told herself. It didn't happen like this!

Clay's eyes opened... a pair of dead, empty sockets stared back at her. "why, Kimmy... why did you abandon me?"

No, I never abandoned you! Kimiko tried to hold out her hands imploringly... only to snatch them back when Clay rose from the bed, as his body changed into a dark, twisted shape that looked nothing like the sweet, slow-talking boy from Texas!

"You did!" the dark Clay bellowed. "You left me back in the temple to die! Die! DIE!" With that last word, Clay lurched from the bed, his hands raised to wrap around Kimiko's neck-!

"NO!" With a terrified gasp, Kimiko bolted upright in her futon bed, throwing off the comforter and blankets in a flurry of colored cloth and pillows. Reaching for her neck, the young woman clutched her fingers on the soft skin there -- as if seeking the last vestiges of the nightmare that lingered after her sudden awakening.

Looking around, she took in the dim, early morning light filtering through the half-drawn blinds of her bedchamber windows; outside, the grey, pre-dawn sky was filled with the fading twinkle of a few stars, which were foreshadowed by the glittering lights of the Tokyo skyline below.

That... dream! That's all it was... just that same, damn dream! Shaking her head, Kimiko reached up and rubbed her temple with her fingers and felt the beginning throb of an unwanted headache starting to form. "Oooh, man... ugh, not again." Rising to her feet, Kimiko walked slowly towards her bathroom and rummaged around for a bottle of aspirin while she fumbled to fill a cup with water.

"Gah... the 'breakfast of former Xiaolin Dragons, the world over." Popping two tablets into her mouth, she sipped a mouthful of water and swallowed, grimacing against the bitter taste. Opening her eyes, she peered into the wide mirror above the bathroom sink. Taking in her haggard, bed-head state of being, she reached up with one hand to rub the side of her face. "You look terrible, Kimi-kun," she told herself. "At this rate, you'll be looking like you just turned forty, rather than twenty-three!"

With a groan, she turned and staggered back out into the bedroom, rubbing her temple to ease the throbbing still lingering under her skin. "That does it... I've got to knock off the caffeine drinks. As well as the all-night sessions with Rufio over video-conference!" Groaning, she shifted to the side of her bed and started gathering up the scattered bedclothes.

Just then, there was a light rap on her bedchamber door, followed by the appearance of a young, robed woman; Midori, her personal maid. "Miss, are you all right?"

Grunting as she put the pile of pillows back into place, the young woman nodded before replying. "I'm... I'm fine, 'Dori-chan. It was... just another dream."

The shorter, older woman crossed quickly to Kimiko's bedside, stooping to help her employer set her bed to rights. "Ah, the same dream, Miss?" She made a clucking sound in her cheek as she folded the thick comforter and set it on top of the smoothed down covers. "This has been the tenth night this month."

"I know... ugh, I'm just surprised you've been keeping track!"

Midori turned towards Kimiko with a telling look. "I have to look after my employer, so it's my job to look after you that way."

Please don't remind me! You've been mothering me since I came home nearly 8 years ago! Turning away, Kimiko moved back towards the bathroom, yawning as she said, "Lay out some clothes for me, please? I've got to be at work in an hour."

Midori nodded. "I'll get one of your best outfits at once, Miss."

In due course, after a shower, shampoo and a quick whirl through her usual collection of accessories, Kimiko donned the clothes her maid left out for her. A deep-blue chengongsam dress -- plain with no adornment or embroidery -- over a pair of matching, low-heeled pumps, with a short, black jacket with mandarin-style cuffs. Her hair she left down, with only a short segment pinned back with a lotus-motif comb, which was dyed over with a stripe of deep purple color.

Giving herself a once-over look in the full-length mirror in the corner of her room, Kimiko sighed deeply. "Well, I won't grace a corporation's boardroom with this outfit... but, at least for my line of work, it's top-notch."

Midori looked at her from the doorway and nodded. "You will be the brightest gemstone in the fashion-district's crown, Miss!"

"Like daddy always said... if you have to dazzle 'em," Kimiko said, "use your best highlights." Brushing off the side of one sleeve on her jacket, she sighed again before turning away from the mirror. "Well, enough primping. 'Dori... call my driver. It's time to face the horrors of the everyday grind."

oooOOOooo

"But, Kimi-Cup! Daaaahling, you can't do this to me-!"

Propping her head with one hand, while she leaned back against the arm of her plush, leather chair. Sighing, she glanced at the video-conference screen and made a mental note: never drop a last-minute request on Raoul, especially about fabrics! "Raoul, drop the 'poor-little-me' 'tude," she said. "It isn't working."

On the plasma-screen in front of her, the thin, rakishly handsome fellow in an impeccable three-piece replied, "But you're killing me by degrees!"

With a sigh, Kimiko tipped her head back while Raoul went into one of his usual tirades. Staring up at the ceiling of her private office in Shibuya City, she let her mind drift for a moment as she went back over the last six years; after attending an accelerated prep-school, she entered a fashion design school and became one of their top graduates. Following that, she convinced her father to help her fund her own design studio and consulting house.

Now, here she was, one of the newest rising stars of Tokyo's young fashion scene, and most likely to become as successful as her father was with toys. The future ahead looked pretty bright for Kimiko...

Provided she survived this latest exchange with Raoul!

"I mean, I know how much you want to get your new line out on time... but, switching fabrics on me like this? Especially in this... this-!" Raoul reached down and jerked up a swatch of pastel colored cloth to hold it up for the video-camera. "This... are you really certain you want that much Egyptian cotton, in this shade?"

Collecting her thoughts, Kimiko straightened up and glared at the man. "Raoul, sweetie, why do you think I come to you when I need all my fabrics... and have been doing so for the past six years?" She held out her hands in an expansive gesture. "You're the miracle worker in Milan! The go-to-guy on the runway!"

Raoul gave her a sideways look, then nodded. "Hmm... true, so true, but-?"

"No buts, Raoul," Kimiko said. "You've gotten me out of some tight scrapes before today. You can do it again. I know you can!"

"What are you saying?" Raoul looked at her as if she'd snapped her fingers under his nose. "Of course I can do it!"

With a nod and a smile, Kimiko said, "Then make it happen, Raoul... and I'll be in touch!" She reached out and tapped the top of the video-conference box, and the screen went blank. Slumping back into her seat, she moaned and asked, "Why do they always want to go round and round, the hard way?" Rising up from her seat, she rubbed her temples before reaching back to tap the conference box once more. "Zumi, are you there?"

The voice of her office assistant came back over the intercom, saying, "Hai, Madame."

"Call up someone with an early-morning bento selection," Kimiko said. "I need some energy, after talking with Raoul!" Switching off the intercom before her assistant could reply, she stepped away from her conference table and started walking across the wide, split-level office space towards her workstation. "I'd better get on with working on those revisions... or else I can kiss my next paycheck goodbye!"

Just as she started ascending the steps to the upper level, a dark shape detached itself from the shadows in the alcove ceiling from above. Landing at the top of the steps, the shape lifted its head, as a pair of glittering eyes stared hard at Kimiko!

"What the-?" Out of sheer reflex, Kimiko sprang backwards, vaulting down the steps to land in a defensive stance on the floor below.

A silky voice said, "Well, well... looks like the little Dragon Girl didn't forget her lessons... even being this far removed from her temple!"

Kimiko gasped. "Who the heck are you... and how did you know I was a-?"

"A Xiaolin Dragon?" There was a cat-like chuckle, as the figure started to stalk down the steps. "Why, Little Kimmy-kins... how soon we forget our former foes. Especially one that was Wuya's number-one girl... and the one that always could kick your little Asian tail!"

A wave of ice passed through Kimiko's belly, as a memory of her time with the Xiaolin Temple surfaced in her mind. "Oh no... not... it couldn't be you!"

Emerging into the light, the dark-clothed, grinning visage of Katnappe gave Kimiko a mock-pout. "Aw, you do remember me!" Her expression turned cruel, as she spread her hands, extending a set of sharp, metal claws from her fingertips. "I certainly remember you, you Xiaolin witch! You knocked me out and left me like a piece of trash on the battlefield, back when you and your little crew tried to stop Wuya and the rest of us from taking over the world!" She snarled with a feral tone. "That really ticked me off!"

Kimiko shook her head, gathering her focus. "So what now, you're back to get a little revenge for yourself?"

Chuckling, Katnappe continued to slowly creep down the stairs towards her. "Hardly! I was looking for some place to score some valuables," she said. "After all, when you're the top cat in the world of cat-burglary, you never go slumming when in Tokyo! Finding you here... well, that's just a little bit of bonus!" Taking a short leap, she landed in front of Kimiko and gave off a feline yowl.

Kimiko's expression hardened. "Sorry to disappoint you, Kat, but you're gonna leave her with empty pockets and another headache!" With that, she swept forwards with a curving, long kick to knock Katnappe off of her feet.

"Bring it, little Dragon!" With ease, Katnappe hopped over Kimiko's attack, curling into a ball as she somersaulting over her to land behind the stunned, former-Dragon. Reaching back, she snagged her clawed fingers into Kimiko's hair and pulled, lifting her off of her feet with ease!

"YEOW!" Kimiko found herself sailing across her office, tumbling head over heels as she crashed into a standing display of cloth skeins in the corner. Hitting the floor hard, the air rushed out of Kimiko's chest with a whoosh.

Chuckling, the cat-burglar began to stalk towards the young woman. "Purr-fect! I've got a former Dragon by her pig-tails, and helpless at my feet!"

Gasping, Kimiko tumbled to the side to re-orient herself, only to find her legs entangled in the coils of the skeins that Katnappe had kicked over. "Oh no!"

"Oh yes!" Katnappe chuckled, "Looks like your skills have gone all rusty over the years, Kimmy-kins!" Snapping out her claws as she stared down at Kimiko. "Once I finish cleaning your clock, I'll plunder your office of any baubles lying around, then I'll purge your personal accounts!" She noticed some fancy gemstone jewelry on another display nearby, and purred as she lifted up a stunning diamond and gold chain piece. "Hmm, Imported ice! I like it!"

Grunting, Kimiko tried to pull her legs free as she stared up at her foe. "You're not gonna get away with this!"

Katnappe's eyes turned hard as the diamond-studded chain in her other hand. "I don't see how you're gonna stop me, Kimmy-kins." She grinned cruelly. "After all, you're just a pale, flicker of sparks now... hardly worth cleaning my claws on!" She flicked the chain aside and flicked her claws out once more. "But, why waste an opportunity to do in your best rival?"

Raising her arms to protect herself, Kimiko could only watch in horror as Katnappe leaped into the air, drawing her arms back to slash-!

"EYE OF DASHI!"

The flash of blue lightning caught Katnappe in mid-air, punching her amidships and sending her rocketing backwards across the office space. With a yowl of pain, the cat-burglar crashed into a low bookshelf and fell to the floor, hissing in pain.

What the-? Kimiko couldn't finish that thought, because before her eyes, another shape -- blurred by speedy motion -- landed and bounded towards Katnappe. "WIND! TYPHOON BOOM!"

Before Katnappe could recover, she was lifted off the floor by a super-focused whirlwind and sent spinning into the air. Yowling and screaming, she eventually came crashing back down again... and this time she flopped down onto the floor -- dizzy and in pain -- and didn't rise up to attack again!

Shaking her head, Kimiko finally extracted herself from the coils of cloth tangling her legs and rose up. "Wha-what... what, just, happened, here?"

From where they landed after their last attack, the newcomer slowly turned and gave Kimiko a slow, lopsided grin. "Geez, girlfriend... even ten years gone, you should take better care who you let in your office," a familiar voice said.

Blinking, Kimiko stared and momentarily lost her voice. Swallowing, she finally got enough of it back to ask weakly, "R...R...Rai? Raimundo?"

Reaching up to straighten the front of his Shoku robes, the still-smiling Raimundo said simply, "Hey, Kimiko... miss me?"

Another voice spoke from the open doorway of the office, interrupting Kimiko as she tried to reply: "Hey, don'cha mean 'didn't she miss US?", Mister Leader-guy?" A moment later, a thin, green shape slithered across the office floor, sweeping up Kimiko's leg and body before coming to rest, coiled around her arm. "I mean, you're always forgetting-!"

"Dojo?" Kimiko stared at the tiny dragon, then with a smile she reached up and hugged him to her chest. "Dojo! I can't believe it! It really is you!"

Rai gave her a wry smile. "Yeah, she missed us."

Dojo added, "Well... she's... not lost any... of her... strength!" Wheezing, he struggled for a bit before stating, "Kimiko! Air! I need AIR!"

Letting up on her hug, Kimiko said, "Oops, my bad!" She looked from Dojo to Rai briefly, and said, "Cripes, it's so good to see you guys... but, how did you... I mean, how did you-?"

"Actually, we've been tracking Miz Kitty over there for a while," Rai explained. "She found a new Shen Gong Wu, using one of Jack's old tracking units, and when she ducked in here-."

"We followed her," Dojo said, finishing Rai's explanation for him. "Speaking of which, Leader-man, you'd better get that Wu before Kitty-Kat wakes up!"

Rai nodded, moving towards Katnappe -- who was moaning, face-down on the floor -- before reaching into the carry-sack on her back. He came back up with an object that looked like three bronze rings, fused together. "Good thing she stole a Wu we can use to tie her up with," he said smugly.

Dojo looked at Kimiko, explaining, "That's the Cloverleaf Collar! It's used to hold any creature, no matter how powerful or strong they are!"

"That's a... new one on me," Kimiko admitted.

Rai flipped the Wu over, before saying firmly, "Clover-Leaf COLLAR!" He tossed it down at Katnappe, and the three rings expanded and slipped over her head and both wrists, before shrinking down to entrap them snuggly. With a satisfied dusting-off motion, Rai said, "And, that's how you bag a cat."

Kimiko smiled. "That's so cool, Rai... thanks for, well, all your help."

"Hey, for a friend, anytime," Rai replied. He then put on a pensive expression. "Speaking of which... as a friend, I think... well, it's not the best of circumstances, but..."

Kimiko looked at Raimundo, concerned. "What? What is it?"

Sighing, Rai said, "Since where here, there's something we need to ask you, Kimiko." He took in her expression of worry, and plowed ahead, asking, "Would you come back to the Temple with us... please?"

TO BE CONTINUED...