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 8
"Boy, ya'll have got some serious 'splainin' t'do," Daddy Bailey said, looking down at his oldest child with a great frown underneath his brown, handlebar mustache. Dressed in his casual, cattleman's attire, he was the picture of a totally upset parent as he face Clay and Kimiko. "What in all of Texas has gotten into yer head, Clay?"
Standing next to Daddy Bailey on the wide porch of the Xiaolin Temple, Mr. and Mrs. Tohomiko bore equal expressions of disappointment on their faces. "It appears the same thing that has possessed your son, has also afflicted my daughter, Bailey-san!" Toshiro fixed his eyes on Kimiko and shook his head. "When your personal assistant called us to let us know of your departure from your business, we assumed you would return within a day, my daughter!"
"Only, now we find you have been here for nearly four weeks," Mrs. Tohomiko said gravely. "Kimiko-chan, what has taken over your mind, that you would abandon your job and family in such a manner?"
Standing together at the bottom of the Temple steps, Clay and Kimiko looked up at their respective parents with sad expressions, while they held each others hand in a fierce grip. Only just moments ago, she and her Texan love had both agreed to become engaged; marking one of the most happiest moments of their young lives, when Clay slipped a simple gold ring on Kimiko's finger.
Now, in the face of dire straits -- courtesy of said parents -- Kimiko's heart was filling with icy dread. No way, it can't end up like this! she told herself. Clay and I can't come this close, and have our families shut our happiness down!
Next to her, Clay finally got his nerves back, and was speaking to his tall father. "I don't care for th' way you're makin' this all out, Daddy! You all are lookin' at this... well, like me and Kimmy did somethin' wrong!"
"Ain't that just what yer doin', boy?" Daddy Bailey said gruffly. "Waltzin' off after all ya been through, just to get yourself tied down to some fancy-dance Japanese girl?"
At that, Toshiro turned and glared at Daddy Bailey. "My own daughter has been through her own arduous journey of healing! It does upset me to see that she would ruin all these years of restoration, to join her heart to an uncaring, beef-raising farmhand!"
Daddy Bailey faced Toshiro and ground his teeth together. "Are you sayin' my boy's not good enough for yer daughter, Buster?"
"Any 'boy' who does not have the stones to profess his true feelings from the beginning, isn't worthy enough for any man's daughter," Toshiro snapped. "Much less my precious girl! He is just lucky all he ever did was hurt her pride and heart, or else he would have had to answer to me!"
Kimiko gasped. "Papa! It's not like that at all! Clay would never-!"
Daddy Bailey looked fit to burst as his temper rose. "If'n that daughter o' yours woulda pulled her own weight, 'stead of lettin' Clay get hurt, then she'd haveta answer to me!"
"It wasn't her fault!" Clay said, hoping to shut this growing argument down. "We've already-!"
Both fathers turned and snapped a hard stare at both lovers. "Keep outta this, boy! This is a family matter now, an' only th' parents got any say in how we hash this here situation out."
"I agree," Toshiro said briskly. "Ones with their minds clouded by false feelings, should let clearer heads settled these matters."
Next to the two families, the Xiaolin Dragons all stood by in silence, watching as things unraveled by each passing second. "This does not bode well," Mizuko, the Dragon of Water said softly.
"Tell me about it! Daddy looks madder than a junkyard dog with an' empty food dish," Jessie Bailey said.
Omi looked to Master Fung. "Master, should we not offer to help our friends?"
"No, Omi," the bald-headed Master monk said solemnly. "As Clay's father said... this is for 'family' to settle between themselves. Sometimes, even the pebbles must wait for the boulders to come to rest."
Seated on his shoulder, Dojo wrinkled his nose as he said, "Yeesh, I've got to get you a better desk calendar!"
Meanwhile, Clay and Kimiko looked at each other with stricken expressions plastered over their faces. Oh no... they, sound serious about this! Kimiko said to herself. Looking down at her hand -- cupped in Clay's big one -- Kimiko's eyes focused on the gold ring on her ring finger. She'd only just accepted it... and now... all the happiness seemed to leak out of her like a punctured tire, as she listened to both her father and Clay's argue like dickering fishwives.
I don't think... I can handle it, if they tell is we-! New tears welled up in her dark eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks...
Suddenly, Clay's hand tightened around hers in fierce grip.
"Wha-?" Looking up through her wet lashes, Kimiko saw the stony set of Clay's jaw, and the glittering steel inside his eyes. With a gasp, she nearly recoiled as a bubble of fear rose up into her chest, having never seen Clay look this angry before!
As if sensing her unease, Clay turned and looked at her, and his hard expression softened just a touch. "I ain't givin' you up, darlin'... not without a fight!" He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "It's time we took matters inta our own hands! You with me?"
Taking support from his words and his rock-solid presence, Kimiko squeezed his hand and nodded. "Always, cowboy... to the bitter end!"
Nodding once, Clay turned to face their folks and squared his shoulders, waiting while Daddy Bailey and Toshiro continued to argue; their voices raising with every passing exchange of words. As both fathers paused to gather strength for another exchange, Clay quickly lifted his booted foot, cocking it at the knee like the hammer of a big-bore pistol!
Kimiko winced slightly. "Oh no!"
Bringing his boot heel down with pile driver-force, Clay bellowed, "Seismic Kick EARTH!"
The shock wave of his Elemental power was highly localized, and not meant to spread out very far... yet, the sudden rumble of earth and stone beneath everyone's feet quickly got their attention. At once, their parents stopped arguing, while struggling to remain upright while the ground below rolled like ripples on a pond.
Even Master Fung and the Dragons were caught off guard; forced to stagger back and grab onto the temple walls for support.
As the last part of the shock wave ebbed into silence, Clay spoke quickly before anyone else could say something: "If I got yer attention -- an' meanin' no disrespect to ya both -- will ya please shut yer yappin' an' listen to US, now!"
Both Daddy Bailey and Toshiro looked at Clay in utter shock, falling silent as Clay pulled Kimiko towards the steps, walking up them with a determined pace.
"What's happened in th' past is just that," Clay said firmly. "It's in th' past, an' nothin' nobody can say or do will ever change that!" He stared hard at his father. "Daddy, you may not approve of Kimmy, an' Mister Tohomiko may never approve of me... but, th' truth is neither of ya'll's approval matters much more than a fly buzzin' in a Longhorns' ear. Not where me and Kimiko are concerned!" He looked down at Toshiro and his wife, nodding his head once. "I may never amount t'much more than a cowboy, but Kimiko an' I know what's in each other's hearts... an', th' fact that we love each other is all that matters in th' end!"
Kimiko nodded in agreement, before she looking pleadingly at her parents. "Papa... Mama, please understand. We both understand why you're upset, but Clay and I have been through too much already," she said. "We want to be together, and... well, we'll do so, even if you don't approve of us!"
Toshiro's eyes were wide like dinner plates behind his glasses. "You mean... you would risk our anger, just to be with this... this, boy?"
Daddy Bailey's voice was filled with equal amounts of disbelief, as he asked, "Clay, you'd turn yer back on yer family, just for some lil' slip of calico?"
Sitting on Master Fung's shoulder, Dojo muttered, "Wouldn't 'silk' be a more appropriate fabric?"
Clay squared his jaw, and Kimiko stepped closer to wrap her arms around him in a hug. "Speakin' for Kimmy an' me, if we both are happy t'gether... well, no disrespect, Daddy, but we'd miss sharin' our happiness with our family-."
"In the end, all we want is to share our lives with each other," Kimiko said firmly. "I love Clay, and I don't want to ever live the rest of my life without him!"
"Ditto fer me, too." Clay dropped his arm to wrap it around Kimiko's shoulders, nodding firmly.
At that, the Xiaolin Dragons turned to look at the parents, waiting to see what their response would be. Both Kimiko's parents and Clay's father had turned towards each other -- the two men muttering intense words under their breath, while Toshiro's wife interjected only a few times -- before they fell silent and faced the young couple once more.
"Your minds... will not be changed from this course of action, my daughter?" Toshiro asked.
Both Kimiko and Clay remained frozen in their embrace. "Not even thinking of doing otherwise, Papa!"
"You'll haveta throw me inta a sack fulla scorpions, but... even then, I wouldn't change my mind, Daddy," Clay said.
Heaving a deep sigh, Daddy Bailey shook his head. "Well, if that's what th' two of ya have in mind... then, yer givin' both me and your parents no other choice!"
The couple tensed. Well, Clay would say it best... here comes the heavy end of the hammer! Kimiko told herself.
Surprisingly, the next thing the parents did... was to smile and nod in unison. "Looks like we're gonna haveta start plannin' a weddin', then!" Daddy Bailey said with a chuckle.
Blinking, Clay asked, "Ahh... ya'll wanna run that back again, fer me?"
This drew a round of laughter from the Xiaolin Dragons -- save for Master Fung, who just smiled warmly -- who quickly moved to surround the stunned pair. "I think Daddy's sayin'," Jessie said, "that if'n ya'll wanna get hitched, then looks like ya'll ain't gettin' married without our help, Big Bro!"
Kimiko gasped. "What? But, I... We thought-?"
Toshiro's wife stepped through the crowd of warriors to embrace her daughter. "My child, did you really believe that we would stand in your way?" she asked, before pulling back to give Clay an equal embrace. "You two deserve each other, and we would be foolish to impede your new-found happiness."
"But, ah... I don't get it!" Clay looked at Kimiko and his father. "We both thought, well, ya'll were madder than a hornet's nest that's been kicked!"
With a grin, Daddy Bailey said, "Son, now c'mon... can't ya'll give us some credit!" Stepping forwards, he reached out and gave Clay's shoulder a heavy-handed slap. "After yer friends brought us here t'hear th' news, I talked it over with Mr. Toho here an' convinced him t'have a little... well, it's a bit of a family tradition with our family."
Toshiro nodded. "You see, Bailey-san explained, that his own father was not in approval of him, when he was about to marry Clay's mother," he explained. "According to him, it is traditional for the father to 'disapprove' of his own child's prospective partner in marriage."
Clay and Kimiko goggled at them all. "Are you sayin'... that th' whole time, ya'll weren't really mad at all?" Clay asked.
Kimiko slapped her hand over her face. "Oh man... we just got 'punked', by our parents! I don't believe it!"
Next to them, Raimundo chuckled softly, before saying, "It was a good joke, all right! Wish I'd thought of it."
Toshiro stepped in front of Kimiko, bowing at the waist before he said, "Forgive us, my daughter, for having a little laugh at your expense. It was never our intent to hurt you or Clay." He reached out to place his hands on her shoulders, smiling warmly. "We all are fully supportive of your decision to marry one another, and only wish to help you in the celebration of your union."
Kimiko shook her head, before she smiled wanly and reached up to hold her father's hands. "You mean it, Papa?"
Daddy Bailey answered for Toshiro, saying, "Girl, if'n we didn't mean it, would we really stand a chance against ya'll, whatever yer decision was?"
Toshiro said, "All you need to do is tell us when you wish to have your ceremony, Kimi-chan... and we will do everything possible to make your wedding a memorable one!"
Nodding, Master Fung added, "We shall all help you and Clay prepare for your wedding."
"Yes, we shall! We could do no less, as your friends," Omi said with a warm smile.
With new tears of joy filling her face, Kimiko gave her father a large hug, before turning to see Clay and his father embracing. "I guess, when you put it that way... how can either of us say 'no'?"
Clay chuckled. "Guess we really cain't refuse." He gave everyone a smile and said, "Thanks, ya'll. We really do appreciate this!"
"We really do!" Kimiko said, moving to stand next to Clay. "More than you guys will ever know."
With a grin, Daddy Bailey asked, "So, what are we doin' just standin' around like this?" Jerking a thumb in the direction of the temple entrance, he said, "Let's take this lil' tea-party inside and start workin' out th' weddin' day details!"
ooooOOOOoooo
Later in the day, as the sun worked its way towards the horizon, the activity in the temple had calmed down somewhat... but the level of excitement had barely abated since that morning.
Even so, the atmosphere around the two people central to all the activity was as calm as the world after a rainstorm. Clay and Kimiko had retired for the early evening, and were now sitting before the open window in Clay's bedroom in the dormitory; the shorter woman nestled comfortably in the tall cowboy's arms as he leaned against a pile of pillows, while she ran her brush through her long, black tresses.
"Woo-ee! I'll say this fer your Ma and Pa, Kimmy," Clay said warmly, "When they set out t'do somethin', they sure don't do it in halves!"
Chuckling, Kimiko said proudly, "Papa always was big on doing things on a grand scale. It's just good for us that Mama has a level head on her shoulders... otherwise, we'd be having a ceremony befitting an emperor getting hitched."
Glancing down at her, Clay said, "Well, I may not be some Emperor, but anything that involves you... makes me feel like a king!"
Half-turning to face him, Kimiko grinned. "Flatterer." Putting her brush down, she faced him fully and braced her hands against his broad chest. "I just can't believe it's gonna happen! I mean, in two weeks, we're finally getting married!"
"Believe it, darlin'... it's gonna be one heck of a shindig," Clay said, his eyes looking off into the distance for a moment.
Catching his look, Kimiko asked, "Penny for your thoughts, Cowboy?"
Clay sighed, then looked at her. "Just thinkin' back... remember when I told you about th' first time I saw ya, back when we first arrived here in China?"
"Ah-huh... what brought this up again?"
"I just remember thinkin', that you were the prettiest lil' thing I'd ever seen... but, I didn't know then what th' future was gonna hold for us," Clay explained. "I mean, I really didn't think it was gonna bring us this far along, y'know?"
"Me neither," Kimiko admitted. "All I knew back then was that this whole Xiaolin thing was gonna be some big adventure." She smiled and reached up to cup Clay's cheek lovingly. "If you'd told me, I'd end up meeting my future husband here-."
"Yeah, I'd have told anybody they'd been chewin' on a patch o' Locoweed." Clay turned his face into her palm, kissing it before he wrapped her body up in a close embrace. "Guess we were both a lil' crazy, hm?"
"All I know is," Kimiko said, nuzzling close underneath his chin, "That I'm crazy about you, Clay Bailey."
"Luv ya right back, Kimiko."
For a while, neither dared to move or say anything to break the moment they shared together...
Then, a hesitant knock at Clay's doorway got their attention.
"Dangit," Clay growled softly.
Kimiko reached up to press a finger to his lips. "Got to expect little interruptions, dear... until we get a place of our own."
"Aw, don't tease me like that!" Clay said with a grin.
"Down, Cowboy. We've got company." Turning, Kimiko called out towards the hallway outside the entrance, saying, "Come in, Jack. I know it's you out there!"
Poking his red-head in through the opening, the former Evil Boy Genius chuckled wanly. "A-heh... how'd you know?"
"Does it matter?" Kimiko and Clay both slid off the bed and stood up. "What's on your mind, Jack?"
Stepping inside the room, Jack Spicer clasped his hands behind his back and looked down at the floor, like a reluctant schoolboy. "Well, um... it's, ah, like this... y'see, I listened in to all the prep-stuff for your, ah, wedding day, downstairs..."
"Yeah," Clay said. "So, what's up, Spicer?"
"I'm getting there, Cowboy," Jack said, looking up at the couple briefly, before he twisted his fingers together in an embarrassed gesture. "Well, I heard about how everyone's takin' part in your ceremony... but, ah, well... I just, ummmm-."
Kimiko had a sudden flash of insight, cutting into Jack's ramble gently to say, "You didn't hear us say if you were even involved, or invited, huh?"
Rubbing the back of his head, Jack nodded and chuckled lamely. "Yeah, exactly! I mean... well, we've been rivals in the past before, and, well I can understand if you two don't want me there," he said, before looking at them both squarely in the eye. "But, I am a Xiaolin Dragon now... and, if I promised to behave, well... I was sorta hoping that, um, that you two would-."
"Don't say another word, Spicer," Clay said firmly. "If you think I'd let you sit this lil' shindig out... well, I'd think we wouldn't be fair t'you or everyone else if we did that."
Kimiko nodded. "After all, being a Dragon means you're part of our family," she said.
Jack looked up, a smile spreading over his pale face. "What? You mean... I'm in?"
"Ah, with one lil' condition though," Clay said with a grin.
Jack arched one eyebrow. "What's that?"
"Ya gotta bring yer cousin to help us out."
"What? Megan?" Jack looked aghast. "B-but, if I bring her, she'll... I mean-!"
"What's wrong with bringing her around? She seemed like a nice kid when we met her the first time," Kimiko said.
Jack dropped to his knees, shaking his head rapidly. "That's because you don't know what's she's like when I'm around! She's a literal terror in Mary-Janes! My life isn't worth a free-minute on a celphone when she's got her hooks into me!"
Both Clay and Kimiko looked at each other, then chuckled. "Well, considerin' we need a flower girl for th' ceremony," Clay said. "If'n we can't get Megan t'do the job-."
"Then, we might have to settle for someone else," Kimiko finished saying.
"Oh? Well, who do, you, have...?" Jack looked from one to the other, seeing their expressions shift to wry, twisting smiles as they stared right back at him. "Oh... no. No, no, no-no-no-NO! You cannot be serious?"
"Aw, but Ja-ack! Mama's picked out this darling little dress for our flower girl," Kimiko said in a sing-song voice.
"Yeah, c'mon, Jack! Do ya want us to go without a flower girl?" Clay grinned. "Besides, ya'll will have th' chance t'show off those bandy-legs o' yours!"
At that, Kimiko shot him a glance, even though she was laughing. "Clay! That's just downright evil!"
"And I'm the former Evil-Genius here!" Jack sighed and dropped his shoulders in defeat. "Okay, fine... I'll, go get in touch with my parents and see if... gulp! if Megan can come."
Clay reached out and patted Jack on the shoulder. "That's th' idea, Spicer... everyone's gotta do their part!"
"Yeah, well, don't do me anymore favors, 'kay?" Jack grumbled under his breath, until Kimiko stepped up and gave him a hug.
"Well, this is one favor you'll be doing that will make this the best ceremony yet," she said. "Thanks, Jack."
With a sudden rush of blush to his cheeks, Jack stammered and tugged at the collar of his Apprentice robes. "Ah-eh-heh-heh! Y-yer... well, y-your welcome, K-Kimmy!"
Stepping back, Kimiko said, "Now, don't you think you'd better go make that phone call, hm? Me and Clay have some... things to discuss in private."
Jack nodded and backed towards the doorway. "Ah, yah! Sure! Not a problem," he said with a weak grin. "Ah, I'll, go take care of that... right now!" With that, he turned and bolted out of the room, and was gone.
Kimiko chuckled. "Boy, do you think it's a good idea to antagonize him like that? I mean, we do need a flower girl, but-."
"Aw, what's th' point of havin' Spicer around, if'n ya can't have a lil fun with 'em?" Clay said, before he turned to lead Kimiko back to their perch on his bed. "Besides, I figure he owes big fer all th' insults he heaped on us years ago." When Kimiko shot him an arched look, he added, "But, I promise not to pester him, especially durin' th' weddin'."
With a smile, Kimiko let Clay climb back onto the bed. "Now you're learning, Cowboy." Slipping back into his embrace, she snuggled close and sighed happily. "I just hope everything goes without a hitch, come our wedding day."
"Better revise that, darlin'," Clay said. "'Cause, there's one hitch that needs t'come around on our special day."
Raising her head, Kimiko asked, "Oh?"
Clay said softly, "That's us... gettin' hitched to one another." Without pause, he dipped his head and kissed her gently.
"Mmmm!" Kimiko leaned back, after they broke apart, and sighed. "Why is it the one man in the entire world that I love, has be a big, romantic, Texas cowboy?" Before Clay could reply, she shushed him with another kiss before saying, "You are the most amazing man I've ever known, Clay... and I am so happy that I'm going to share my life with you!"
Clay smiled a mile-wide, as he hugged her close to his burly chest. "Ditto, darlin'... I could'na said it better."
TO BE CONTINUED...
