Chapter Two – What's There To Think About?

Raimundo kicked the soccer ball, exchanging his use of his legs. Up and down, the ball went. Bounce, bounce, bounce…

Meanwhile, Clay was sitting down on the ground, watching his friend as he did this. Omi had gone inside to meditate.

"Thank goodness Omi went inside," Clay started. Raimundo did not divert his eyes or his attention from the soccer ball, though Clay knew that he was paying attention to what he was saying.

"Why is that, Clay?"

"Well, because… because I've been meanin' to talk to you, par'ner. It's about you and Kimiko." Raimundo's eyes suddenly widened, and he lost his concentration causing him to accidentally kick the soccer ball away from him. Clay lassoed the ball back to them, and Raimundo took the ball to sit on it. Once he faced his companion again, he found the most amused look on his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked Clay, annoyed.

"Well, it's because you're what one'd call 'love-struck.'" He chuckled.

"You're love-struck!" Raimundo retorted.

"Calm down there, Rai. I didn't mean it as an insult."

"Whatever. What did you have to talk to me about, anyway?"

"Well, my cousin knows a guy who knows a guy…"-

-"uh-huh, and?"

"How's that thing goin' with you and Kimiko?" Clay asked, suddenly. Raimundo looked around, paranoid, before answering.

"Horrible. There is no thing. I don't think anything will happen at all," he threw his hands up exasperated.

"Well that's just perfect, then!" Clay said, causing him to receive a disapproving look from Raimundo. "What I mean is, I kind of set you up on a blind date."

"What?" Raimundo exclaimed. "What'd you do that for? I already like someone!"

"You said so yourself, Rai, nothin's happenin'. Just try this, maybe you'll even like the girl. Think about it and let me know." Clay picked up his hat from the ground beside him as he stood up, and placed it on his head as he walked away.

"What's there to think about?" Raimundo called after him. "My answer's already no!"

But Clay didn't care to hear, and he didn't look back as he walked into the temple. Frustrated, Raimundo stalked after him. For some reason, he kept entertaining the thought of that blind date, but he truly was unsure of what to do.

It was dinner-time, and Omi, Kimiko, Raimundo and Clay were sitting around the table, respectively. Clay was glancing at Raimundo, slyly, subtly peer-pressuring him into agreeing to the blind date. Raimundo tried his best to avoid Clay's glances while glancing at Kimiko, himself. Kimiko, flustered as can be, avoided Raimundo's glances and focused her attention on Omi, who was oblivious to everything. Dojo walked in, but immediately sensing the awkward tension, slithered back to Master Fung's room.

"I am most excited for training tomorrow. My skills are improving very rapidly…" Omi emphasized the words "most" and "very" as he usually did in casual conversation. His self-absorption was ignored for now, for his companions had the obvious things on their minds.

Raimundo should just meet this girl, Clay mused. A blind date would be good for him. Either that or he should just go for Kimiko already; he's been bitten by the love bug more than my cousin Billy's been bitten by mosquitoes, and boy, has he had his share of mosquitoes…

Look at Kimiko, a voice spoke in Raimundo's head. She's not even looking at me, she keeps listening to Omi, whatever he's talking about. Maybe I should pay attention—Nah, it'll just get me mad again. For all I know, she likes him and not me. That would be so…

I wish Raimundo would stop looking at me, Kimiko thought. He's making me so nervous. This is crazy, does he like me? Doesn't he? I wonder if I should go on that blind date. But I'm still waiting for Raimundo, to see if he'll do anything. That's it, I'm tired of waiting. If Raimundo doesn't do anything by tomorrow, I'm going to go on that blind date! Or maybe I won't, I still have to think about this...

"…have you seen how much I've improved on my kicks? Master Fung was most pleased. But I agree that my performance was most impressive…"

A/N: Second chapter! Second chapter! So, how is it? Thanks to the reviewers! You guys are freakin' awesome! Thank you!

Now to you readers and reviewers, please be a doll and do that thing you do. :D