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 7
As morning spread over the Temple, the sun beat down with the warmth of a new-day's promise. The scents of flowers and wood smoke filled the air, as the monks working in the Temple's kitchen prepared the morning meal, in anticipation for the rising of all the monks and apprentices.
Most of the Temple's populace was deep into their usual routine. Already, the former and the current Masters Fung and Omi were sipping green tea as they sat on the wide porch to watch as Raimundo lead the younger Dragons through their morning exercises and training. Naturally, Jack was having a time of it, but he was getting better at getting the moves down... albeit, slowly.
In Master Fung's private garden, two familiar faces were greeting the day, in their own manner...
"Breathe, now... move, an' step on through... keep it simple. Nothin' fancy, now." Clay Bailey pivoted on one bare foot in the middle of the sandy space, turning slowly as he shifted into the next series of Tai-Chi movements.
Beside him, Kimiko Tohomiko followed him like a mirror's image; letting her arms move smoothly through the motions of "Crane-Sweeps-Aside-Clouds".
Without looking, Clay nodded and smiled. "Good goin', Kimmy," he said. "Now, let's try this one..."
Kimiko matched Clay, move for move. Wearing the familiar robes of a Xiaolin Dragon -- now bearing the colors of a Shoku warrior -- she didn't miss a step as they glided across the sand. Since her return, and after hearing about her trials of emotional highs and lows, and the mental journey taken, Master Omi had proclaimed her fully reinstated as a Xiaolin Dragon, and promoted her to Shoku rank. The robes were now a badge of honor, and she wore them proudly.
At one point, Clay paused to observe her movements, before slipping back into the routine. "Just a few more, an' we can take a break, Kimmy."
From the neutral expression on her pretty features, she gave all the appearance of being in a state of uttermost calm.
However, inside her mind, Kimiko was far from that state of mind.
"Master Fung's got a point... Considerin' you two are gonna be a couple, just what are th' two of you gonna do now?"
Those words, spoken by Clay's sister, Jessie, had been echoing inside her head for weeks now. At the time, Kimiko had simply begged for them to leave that particular subject alone... after all, with the major revelations of Clay's feelings for her and her reciprocating them in kind, it just seemed prudent to leave things as they were.
Now, however, Kimiko had found herself thinking about that question -- and her and Clay's relationship -- on an almost hourly basis. Something that Clay did pick up on... which was obvious when they finally did stop for a break.
Sitting down on a stone bench nearby, the blond-haired cowboy peered at her thoughtfully. "You, ah... ready to tell me what's on yer mind, hon?"
Kimiko blinked, then blushed slightly. "You're starting to read me like a book, hm?"
Clay just smiled. "Well, you've been fidgety like a mouse cornered in a room fulla rat-traps for days," he said. Reaching out to pat the surface of the bench, he added, "You wanna talk now, or am I gonna hafta play dirty t'get it outta ya?"
"Save the 'kissing torture' for later, cowboy." With a chuckle and a sigh, Kimiko stepped over and sat next to him. "It's nothing major... it's just, well..."
"One thing I've learned about ya, Kimmy," Clay said. "Nothin's too small to not be major, when yer worrying over it. So, spill them beans yer holdin' back, darlin'."
"Well, since you put it that way... it's about us," Kimiko said softly.
"Us?" Clay looked surprised. "What about us?"
"I've just been wondering, I mean... where do we go from here?"
Clay looked at her for a moment, then he said, "I thought... well, aren't we where we're supposed t'be? I mean, we're together an' with our friends here, at th' Temple-."
Shaking her head, Kimiko said, "It's not that, Clay. Don't get me wrong, okay? I'm happier than I've ever been, finally knowing how we both feel about each other... but, now that we've both admitted it, well, what do we do now?"
Blinking, Clay's face filled with the light of understanding. "Ah, I think I get what yer drivin' at, Kimmy." He reached for her hand, covering it with his own. "Are we gonna just stay like this, or-?"
"Clay, don't think I want to push you into something neither you and I are ready for," Kimiko said quickly, returning his grip with a loving squeeze. "It's just that, I really don't see us just staying here at the Temple as Xiaolin Dragons for the rest of our lives, just doing training and... well, don't you want more out of our relationship?"
Clay reached up to rub the back of his head -- a gesture that Kimiko had come to recognize as a sign of him thinking hard over something -- and he sighed. "I just want to be with you, darlin', in whatever way you want me."
"Oh, Clay! I just want you," Kimiko said. "Does it really matter in what capacity?"
Clay gave her a frank look. "Well, actually, it does. I mean, do we stay here at th' temple, and continue to train with our friends and the new Chosen Ones?"
Kimiko's brow wrinkled as she frowned. "Well, do they really need us now, since they got Mizuko and... Jack, even? I mean, what's to keep us from going anywhere we want, and settling down together?"
"What about yer buisness, Kimmy?"
The words made Kimiko flinch. "Oh..."
Nodding, Clay reached back down and wrapped his hands around hers. "As much as I want ya t'be with me, I could never ask you to give up somethin' yer good at, darlin'."
Groaning, Kimiko nodded. "I know, I know... I just never thought about it, when Rai was bringing me here in the first place!" She looked up at Clay with a worried expression. "What am I going to do about it?"
Clay looked askance, then, his face filled with a bright smile. "Wait just a cotton-pickin' minute, Kimmy! Why can't you move yer business outta Toyko?"
That took Kimiko by surprise. "Move my business?"
"Why not? Yer pretty savvy with all those computers and mobile technology an' such," Clay said. "You can't tell me it'd be too hard to move the whole bolt-n''-barrel to a new location!"
Pulling one hand free from his pair, Kimiko raised it in a halting gesture. "Woah, slow down, Cowboy! Just where would we move my fashion design business too?"
Grinning, Clay offered, "Why not Texas?" He saw the idea take root in her mind, as Kimiko's eyes lit up like beacons. "After all, San Antonio's not that far from th' big 'burgs; Dallas, Austin, Corpus Christi... there's a whole new market that'd be itchin' t'see yer fancy duds and accessories!"
Kimiko rubbed her chin as she absorbed his words. "Hmm... you know, one of my biggest buyers lives in Dallas," she said. Snapping her fingers, she smiled. "Of course! The World Market Hall's the biggest merchandising center my company deals with in that part of the country!" She chuckled. "I get a lot of requests for clothing for the younger crowds from there."
Clay chuckled. "Sounds like a good place t'set up shop then!"
"It's more than that," Kimiko said, beaming as she suddenly jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. "I can move my business there, you don't have to leave Texas-!"
Clay ducked his head. "Aw, what gave you that idea?"
"Clay... I know what's in your heart now, remember?" Kimiko reached up and tipped his head up with a gentle touch of her fingers. "If I can quote what you told me before... 'ya can take the boy outta Texas...?'"
"But, ya cain't take Texas outta the man, darlin'," Clay finished for her, reaching up to grip her hand with a loving squeeze. "I'm that transparent, eh?"
"Like a glass of water, hon," Kimiko said tenderly. Giving him a peck on the cheek, she added, "Believe me, this is the perfect answer to all of our questions!"
Clay hugged her tight, before pulling back to set her down on her feet. "Well... actually there's one other question that needs t'be answered."
Kimiko cocked her head. "Huh? What question is that?" Before her suddenly startled eyes, Clay slid off the bench and dropped onto one knee, before he reached into the folds of the Shoku sash around his waist.
"Th' one question that matters th' most," Clay said, removing his large hand and holding it out towards her. Opening it, he revealed a plain, golden ring -- tiny in the center of his palm -- which twinkled in the morning light.
Gasping with surprise, Kimiko raised both hands to cover her mouth.
"Kimiko Tohomiko... will you do me th' honor, of allowin' me to ask fer your hand in marriage?" Clay's eyes were bright and filled with love.
"Clay... I-!" Kimiko slowly let her hands drop, until she could reach out and place them inside Clay's large paw. With a fortifying breath, she got her racing heart back under control, before she asked with utter sincerity, "Clay, is this what you want? For real?"
Closing his hand around hers, until they both could feel the press of the circle of precious metal against their flesh, Clay replied, "Darlin', I want this more than I want my next breath... more than I want t' howl it to th' moon an' back again." He shyly ducked his head, looking at her through the curtain of his blond bangs. "Kimiko, will ya marry me, an' make me the happiest cowboy West of th' Pecos?"
Clutching his hand fiercely, Kimiko couldn't help the sudden flood of tears that sprang to her dark eyes, yet she was smiling as bright as sunlight as she nodded her head. "Yes... oh, yes I will marry you, Cowboy!" Without preamble, she dove forwards into the circle of his arms, and hugged him like she wanted to absorb him into herself.
Hugging her tight, Clay held her close as he knelt there in the middle of Master Fung's garden. Then, rising like a jack-in-the-box, he swung Kimiko around as he crowed like a rooster; his voice echoing loud and long as he let out the joy bursting from his heart.
Laughing with equal joy in measure, Kimiko clung to him as he whirled about, before shrieking as he suddenly lost his balance -- tripping over his own feet -- before landing with her shielded from harm, flat on his back in the sand pit.
"Omigosh! Clay?" She started to pull away, before she caught that Clay was laughing, and not looking anything like he was hurt. "Are you all right?"
Clay let his laughter die off, but the smile on his face looked permanently fixed on his mouth and cheeks. "Darlin' I'm as happy as a clam in an Emril chowder... doesn't it look like I'm okay?"
With a wry smile, Kimiko gave him a mock slap on his chest. "Oh, you dumb hayseed! I thought you were hurt, falling down like that!"
Clay turned, letting Kimiko down so she was laying beside him in the sand, before rising up on one elbow to smile at her. "Kimmy, with you by my side, there ain't nothin' on this here Earth that can hurt me... not any more!" Arching one eyebrow, he held up his hand, showing that he had the ring gripped between two fingers. "May I?"
With a loving smile, Kimiko held out her left hand and spread her fingers into a wide fan. "If you don't, I'll make you do it."
"Nah, don't need t'twist my arm like that," Clay said softly. Reaching out, he threaded her ring finger through the center of the gold ring, until it came to rest before the knuckle; glittering in the sun. "There. No turnin' back now... guess this means we're officially engaged, darlin'."
Lifting her hand to smile at the glittering band, Kimiko nodded. "I don't think I'd wanna turn back... not after what we've been through. Looking up into his eyes, Kimiko reached up and cupped his broad cheek lovingly. "I love you, Clay."
"I luv you too, Darlin'." With that, Clay reached up to remove his tan, ten-gallon hat, placing it to the side before dipping his head to place a kiss on her lips...
ooooOOOOoooo
A short time later, Clay and Kimiko were walking back towards the main part of the Temple grounds -- both with an arm wrapped lovingly around the other -- moving with the dreamy pace of two people so deeply in tune with each other.
"So, how are we gonna break this to our families?" Kimiko asked, resting her head against Clay's side. "I mean, I know Papa and Mama will probably take it okay-."
"Darlin', if I know my Daddy, he'll grump and moan for a spell," Clay said with certainty. "But, he'll come around. Besides, he's been talkin' in private how much he wants some grandkids t'bounce on his knee someday."
Kimiko chuckled, and sighed. "I don't know if I'm ready to fulfill that wish... but, give me some time, to think about it at least."
Clay chuckled. "Believe me, I ain't in no rush t'become a Daddy myself, Kimmy!"
"I... dunno," Kimiko drawled. "'Daddy Clay' sounds like a cute nickname to me!" Grinning, she broke away from Clay's embrace, racing ahead of him on the shaded path for a few feet, before glancing back to see that she'd totally shocked her big cowboy. "Gotcha!"
With a rumble of mock-anger, Clay lunged after her. "Oh, yer gonna get a real tail-warmin' when I get my hands on you, Kimiko!"
Darting away, Kimiko laughed. "Gotta catch me first, Cowboy!"
Laughing with the carefree tone of children at play, Clay chased after Kimiko, following her on a rag-tag path, zig-zagging around the wide courtyard for several minutes... until, at last Kimiko misjudged one zig when she should have zagged. With a high-pitched laugh, she felt herself scooped up and swung around by her love's large hands.
"Hey, no fair!" she shrieked.
"All's fair in war an' love," Clay said, grinning as he slowed to a stop before the main Temple steps. "Besides... either way, don't we both win, darlin'?" Lowering her so she more or less was eye-level with him as he held her close, he gave her a slow, melting kiss, which she returned without a second thought.
"Well," she said, as she broke off the lip-lock, "when you put it that way-."
A sudden throat-clearing interrupted the rest of what she was going to say.
Turning their heads, the two lovers gasped when they spied Master Fung, Omi and the rest of the Xiaolin Dragons, who were clustered together at the top of the steps. "Uh-oh!" Clay muttered.
"Oh boy, this... could be trouble!" Kimiko said with equal concern.
Arching one eyebrow, Master Fung said simply, "Young ones, do you realize what a display you are making here? Especially in front of your friends?"
Both Clay and Kimiko blushed fiercely. "Ah, well... ya see-!"
Omi cut Clay off with a very serious tone, saying, "It is a most uncharacteristic display... one that some might say is inappropriate for a Chosen One! Am I not right, Master Fung?"
Behind him, Raimundo and the rest of the Dragons all frowned and looked very disapproving at the two lovers.
Kimiko slid to the ground from Clay's arms, but she kept hold of his hands as she faced the others. "Wait, you can't be serious here! I mean... Clay and I, we... we didn't do anything wrong!"
"I dunno, Kimmy," Rai said somberly. "If Master Fung says you two did somethin' wrong-?"
"Now you look here!" Clay said, his temper starting to rise. "You can't pass judgment on me and Kimmy like this! We love each other!"
"Love... each other. you say?" Master Fung asked, his tone clearly surprised.
"Clay's right!" Kimiko said fiercely. "He just asked me to marry him, and I accepted and even though we were Chosen Ones, there's not a thing you can say to make either of us change our minds on that score!"
"Not even if someone else had somethin' t'say about that, girlfriend?" Jessie asked.
"Now, now," Master Fung said, holding up one hand to forestall another outburst -- from either the lovers or their friends -- as he faced Clay and Kimiko with a solemn expression. "Young Ones, I must caution you on this decision you are making. Are you quite certain this is what the two of you want?"
Pulling each other close, the two nodded resolutely.
With a sigh, Master Fung let his chin drop to his chest as he folded his arms into the sleeves of his robe. "Then... if that is what you truly wish, there is but one thing to be done." He turned, and the Dragons moved aside... allowing a trio of shadowy figures emerge from within the Temple-proper into the sunlight.
Blinking, Kimiko and Clay both drew in a sharp breath as they recognized the newcomers. "Oh, boy!" Clay gasped.
Echoing his disbelief, Kimiko muttered, "Oh, man... what in the world-?"
"Why act so surprised... my daughter?"
"Boy, ya'll have got some serious 'splainin' t'do, I reckon!"
With nervous gulps, both Kimiko and Clay gripped each other with a vice-like grip, wondering what was going to happen now as they faced both Kimiko's mother and father and Clay's Daddy!
TO BE CONTINUED...
