A/N: Wow guys. I truthfully did not expect nine reviews on Rest's first day… Thank you. I'm glad people are enjoying this little project so far, and since I have so many reviews, I decided to update as soon as possible. Be prepared for lots n' lots of updates!

Chapter 2: Kimiko's Realization

The morning sun's rays crept slowly across the hilly countryside, striking farmhouses, cars and rice-fields, bringing with them the joy of a new day. They traveled fast, as only light could, and in no time, had crept upon the impressive land mark that was the Xiaolin temple, sneaking inside open windows, and bearing down on its inhabitants. But they were not prepared for the shiny bald head of one little monk, which reflected them almost instantly. At the warmth, the monk's eyes opened, and a grin became plastered on his face.

"Ahh! A fine rest indeed." Yawned Omi, as he expelled himself from the tangles of his blanket. "But now it is time to wake. There is much training to do! Wake up, my friends!"

Bounding from within his own cubical, Omi bounced into the one next to his, where Clay's thunderous snores rattled the temple rafters. "Wake up, Clay! There is much to do, and no time in which to do it in."

Clay's snores ceased and, blinking at the enormous, smiling face before his own, mumbled "I think you mean… oh never mind."

"At them and up! We have much to do!" Climbing down from atop Clay's chest, Omi turned his attention to the next lumpy shadow he could see through the dividing screen. "Raimundo!"

The lumpy shape shifted, obviously hiding his head beneath his pillow. Omi grinned, and ran to the last cubical.

"Kimiko! It is time to float and burn brightly!"

"Rise and shine…" Raimundo grumbled from next to him.

Stopping at the entrance to Kimiko's stall, Omi looked over the shapeless lump on the floor and to a tuft of bright red hair that stuck out of the top. "Kimiko? I did not know you had red hair."

At this, the two other boys sat up immediately. Omi held up a finger in understanding and grinned at his own ingenious. "Oh! You have merely acquired a new doing of your hair-"

"Out of the way, Omi." Raimundo pushed the young monk aside and ripped the blanket from atop Jack Spicer, who was in his sleeveless Frankenstein shirt and black pants, sleeping soundly. Shivering, he groped with one gloved hand for the blanket, and, upon discovering its absence, opened his eyes slowly, and fearfully. Looming above him were the figures of the three Xiaolin boys, Clay looking stern, Raimundo looking disgusted and Omi looking terribly confused. He released a squeak of fear and shakily raised a hand in greeting, forcing himself to grin. "H-hi guys."

"What have you done with Kimiko?" Raimundo had grabbed the collar of his shirt. Jack gulped.

"I… wha-?"

"Kimiko, you bumbling idiot!" Raimundo spat, throwing Jack around like a rag doll. "Where is she?"

"I'm right here." Standing just behind the boys, a bowl of steaming water in one hand and a first aid kit in the other, was Kimiko. Her eyes swiveled over the scene before her and she frowned deeply.

"Rai, let go of him. I've already got my work cut out for me without you adding to it."

Forever obedient, Raimundo did as he was told and dropped Jack, who fell to the ground with an "Oof" while Kimiko pushed the road block aside. She kneeled down before Jack and, taking a rag from within the first aid kit, dipped it in the steaming water.

"Uh… Kimiko? What are you doing?" Raimundo inquired, watching her work with concern. "Why are you helping Jack Spicer?"

"Because," Kimiko said, as she wringed out the rag, "he needs help, and I am inclined to give it to him. And why are you all still here?" The fiery female of the group rounded on their leader, her eyes flashing dangerously. "I can't work with you all staring at me like that. Out! OUT!"

Scrambling to escape her wrath, the three boys tumbled over each other, out of the room and into the hall. Kimiko gave them all a "Humph" and ripped the curtain closed around her and Jack.

Raimundo stalked away down one hallway, looking thoroughly pissed, and Clay headed down another, looking thoughtful. Omi sat in the middle, confused.

Jack watched in amazement as Kimiko nearly ripped the curtain off its track. What was she doing? Just a few months ago this monk was referring to him as a repulsive sissy boy, and now she was actually denying her friends the chance to beat him to a pulp for the fun of it. And she felt inclined to help him? What did that mean? Did she think she owed him something?

He doubted it. And yet… he couldn't help but hope that perhaps, Kimiko was…

'What? Finally seeing you for the gorgeous hunk you are? Don't make me vomit.'

"Jack?" Kimiko's concerned face swam into focus. "Are you alright?"

Jack shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Me? Oh… yeah. I'm fine."

"Sorry about those three… I kinda forgot to get them up last night to tell them you were here." She picked her rag up off the floor and dipped it back into the water. "Now, where would you like to start?"

"Start?"

"On your wounds." She held up the dripping rag for emphasis. "Gotta start somewhere."

"I… Why are you helping me?"

"I've answered that-"

"The real reason…"

Kimiko visibly faltered. "I…"

'Face it. She's doing it because she feels sorry for you. She thinks you're pathetic, that you can't take care of yourself.'

'Shut the hell up.'

"I…" She seemed to be wondering herself, and Jack stared at her as she rung her hands together. "Because… I want you to trust me as much as I'm trusting you."

Stunned, Jack could only stare at her as she began to absently lay out the supplies she would need. 'She really trusts me.'

"Kimiko…"

"Hold still," She interrupted him, and brought the cloth up to his forehead to wipe the dried blood from around a large gash. "This is antibacterial… it may sting a little."

"I can do this myself. You don't have to do it." He eyed the needle and thread she had lain out with a nervous twitch. Sure, he could sew himself up, but having someone else do it, especially Kimiko would be too strange for him. At least alone he could sob freely without comment from bystanders.

"If I do it, then I know it's been done properly." She said with a glance at him.

"Humph. If you knew how many times I've done this…"

She scoffed. "You? Try living with three self-destructive boys."

"Try building robots from nothing but scrap metal you find in the garbage. That stuff's sharp."

'Then try having four immensely strong enemies who like to beat the living hell out of you for fun.'

He frowned, a thought hitting him. "You've never cared before. I could fly home from a showdown with half a limb missing and you'd just laugh. Why are you suddenly worried about me?"

Kimiko avoided his eyes. He could tell she was thinking of some complete bull to satisfy him with. She ceased wiping the blood from his forehead, sitting back on her calves. "Jack… We... We've done a lot of things we aren't proud of." She whispered finally, her head bowed. "At least, that I'm not proud of. And I know Clay's not. I talked to him about it once."

'She knows.' He thought in a panic. 'She knows exactly what I'm talking about.'

"I mean… since you've been gone, we've all done a lot of changing."

Jack sneered at her. She was unbelievable! "How much changing could you possibly do in a month, Kimiko? Please, I may be thick, but I'm not a complete idiot."

"Jack… it's been half a year."

He froze, his disgusted sneer fading. "Half a year?" He whispered, and she nodded grimly at him.

"We'd thought you'd been killed."

"Six months." He could hardly believe it. 'Six months of my life wasted… but has it really been that long?' "You're lying."

"No, Jack. It's really and truthfully been six months."

He didn't even notice when she began to clean around a cut on his right cheek. He stared blankly ahead at nothing in particular, but in his mind, he was seeing so much more. 'I've missed so much… I'm eighteen now.'

"I can't believe you haven't noticed…" Kimiko said, dabbing the side of his face.

"I can't either."

Leaving Jack to his own thoughts, Kimiko excited her quarters. She had allowed him to transfer from his, which was terribly and depressingly bare and cold, to her own, more homey room the night before. She left him looking alone and unloved amongst all the gifts her father had sent her from home, and she had to wonder if his own parents had even noticed he was gone.

'Serves him right for being such a slimy…'

But she stopped herself from completing the thought, thinking of what he'd said to her before. "I could fly home with half a limb missing and you'd just laugh…"

She knew he was referring to all the times they had beaten him up, laughed at him, made fun of him. The Xiaolin warriors had always seen him as this weird little wanna-be with an authority complex and a knack for humiliating himself, but they had never before considered the fact that he might just have feelings. Feelings beyond his hatred for anything good. Feelings that could be hurt. All this time, he'd been a lonely kid craving something he probably had never had before; friends, and love from those friends.

'Oh God, what have we done…'

She had never felt more disgusted with herself in her entire life. Is that why she was helping him? Because of the guilt she felt for her past actions?

"God Jack, I'm so sorry…" She whispered, watching his shadow through the curtain. "I really hope that you can forgive us. All of us."

A/N: and that's when I add my sad face.

Wow, Omi is a grammar check nightmare. Half the freakin' page was filled with these little green lines. Ugh.

Don't worry guys. The story will pick up in the next chapter, which will hopefully be done in a couple days. Chapter three will introduce the actual plot. Please Read and Review.