Rating: T
Contains swearing.
K — Karma
Prompt suggestion by: Guest
"Hidden Truth!"
Turning with wides eyes, she could only brace herself for the hit. "Oh fuck,"
Although painless, the white energy forced a cold sensation under her skin.
"You alright, Lil Lady?" Clay asked, offering his hand.
Standing, she whispered, "I don't know,"
"You need to be careful Kimiko, if anyone asks you something, you have to answer truthfully or it's gonna hurt bad," Dojo warned.
Moving to their team, Omi and Raimundo landed either side of the girl as Clay watched Jack laughing in the distance.
A gentle hand on her arm brought her face to face with their leader, worry written across his face.
"Are you okay?"
"I am now," she breathed.
Smirking at the comment, Raimundo turned his attention to the others. "We need to get her out of here, don't want any secrets getting loose,"
"Hey, Kimiko!"
"Oh no..." she groaned.
"What do you think of me?"
Looking to Jack, the slow burn raised in her throat, demanding her truth be spoken.
"Out of all the villains we've faced, you are both the easiest and the most pathetic. You do nothing but whine and overall, you're simply annoying,"
Startled by the forced truth, Jack shuffled on his feet before smirking. "Oh yeah? Well what do you think about those three?"
Eyes widening, Kimiko screamed as she grabbed her throat. Shutting her mouth to prevent any words from escaping.
"Kimiko, you've gotta be honest, or this will only get worse," Dojo pleaded.
Omi stood aside, watching as Kimiko shook her head. Clay wrapping his arm around her for support with a knowing look in his eye.
He was hurt, how could Clay and Raimundo not be? If she was willing to endure all this pain, then surely, she hated them?
"Kimiko," he moved directly in front of her, "What is your opinion of your teammates?"
"Are you kidding me?!" Clay shouted at the monk, speaking Kimiko's thoughts.
"Back off Omi," Dojo warned, attempting to push him from Kimiko.
"You want to know what I think?" she growled, "I think you need to learn when someone wants to keep something private and not force it out of them, and your bad slang? I'm certain most of it is fake after all these years! I love you like a little brother, but you're still so sheltered to see these things!
"And you!" her face turning to the cowboy's, "You damn well know I love you like a big brother, I wouldn't change it for the fucking world!"
Her throat still burned, tears rolling down her cheeks as she turned her body to face Raimundo. His whole body tensed with fear for what she could say.
"Good or bad, please just say it so you can stop this pain," despite hearing Jack's evil laughter in the distance, he kept his eyes on her.
Staring directly into his eyes, she released a shaky breath. "I've had a stupid, giant crush on you for over a year now, and this is never how I imagined telling you. Because I never intended to,"
Ignoring his reaction, Kimiko dropped to her knees. Clutching her head in her hand as she hit the ground.
"I got you," Dojo whispered, his tone soothing, "The pain should start to settle down now, okay? I- I'm sorry you had to go through that,"
Sitting on her knees, she felt Dojo cling to her shoulder as he gently stroked her neck.
"The skin on your neck will be irritated for a while, it'll be worse while the Wu is still in effect but that'll wear off within the hour. Omi never should have repeated the question, it wouldn't have been this bad,"
"Irritation?" she asked, stroking her neck.
The texture felt off — rougher. Squeezing her eyes shut at the stinging sensation she moved her hand away.
"It looks more like a bad case of sunburn," Clay commented, helping her picture the damage.
"Can we go now?" Kimiko stood; her head lowered.
"But Jack Spicer still has the Shen Gong Wu! How could you want to—"
"Haven't you done enough?" she snapped at the young monk. Another tear falling from her eyes. "If you want it so badly, be my fucking guest, but I'm going!"
"You going to look at me?"
She stopped in her tracks, forcing her body still. Her voice shaking, "Hopefully not for a while."
It had been an hour since Kimiko returned. Dojo had insisted it would be safer that she left, preventing any more information escaping. He offered to take her since they had the Silver Manta Ray, having seen the effects multiple times throughout his lifetimes the dragon knew he did not want her travelling alone.
So here she sat, atop the nearby mountain at the temple. Her hair down with the hood of her black hoodie covering her head as she cried every tear possible.
Not long after arriving, Master Fung and some of the monks tried to question her arrival. Dojo warning them as he sat on her shoulder, telling her to run to her room. He knew what had happened, so she could truthfully answer without feeling any more embarrassment.
It was Dojo's suggestion to find somewhere quiet, somewhere to process everything which had happened while waiting for the Wu to wear off.
She had first come here when using the Golden Tiger Claws for the first time. The spot allowed her to see over the temple courtyards while having the privacy she needed. The hoodie helping to keep the cool breeze from her skin.
She was mentally exhausted. Her overwhelming emotions leaving her drained.
Not too long ago, the others arrived in the Wu. She watched Raimundo take two Shen Gong Wu to the vault as Clay raced indoors leaving Omi alone as he bowed his head.
As Omi started to move, she saw Raimundo leave the vault. His body stopping as Clay ran out to tell them something.
She could only guess by their movement that Clay had gone looking for her, only to come up empty.
"Need a lift, kid?"
Kimiko jumped, her hand to her chest at the dragon's sudden arrival.
"They're looking for me, aren't they?"
Dojo smiled sadly, looking to the monks in the temple grounds. "I'm really sorry about what happened, I've seen too many people get hurt by that Wu, I wish you never had to go through it,"
"It's a job hazard, I'm not happy either but I can't change it,"
The small dragon watched as she fiddled with the sleeves of her hoodie. A rare show of nervousness from the Dragon of Fire.
"Sounds like the Wu's finally worn off,"
A few short hours later, the three young men of the group sat at their dining table, quietly tucking into their evening meal.
Dojo had found them after bringing Kimiko back from the mountain, informing them she was doing okay, but insisted on being left alone for a while longer.
Walking into the room, hood still up, Kimiko grabbed a bowl before sitting at her regular seat. Ignoring the silent gazes as she served herself some food, waiting until she set the bowl on the table before speaking.
"It wore off a few hours ago, don't hold off talking on my account,"
"We got the Wu, Lil lady, gonna make sure no one gets their paws on it again,"
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"Kimiko—"
"No."
Omi blinked in surprise at the harsh tone.
"But I was only going to—"
"I'm still mad at you," her tone a warning to the young monk.
Crossing his arms in a huff, Omi grumbled, "I don't see why you should be mad at me. I had every reason to be concerned! Now you can go and be romantic with Raimundo all you wish!"
Raimundo and Clay watched as Kimiko glared at the young monk, her reddened eyes watering once again.
"Fuck this," she whispered. Throwing her spoon onto the table before leaving the room.
Pushing the doors to the courtyard open, Kimiko growled in frustration at the voice calling for her attention.
"Would you please wait up?"
"What do you want, Raimundo?"
Raimundo stayed still, watching her body tense as if she were prepared to fight.
"Don't you want to know how I feel?"
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Kimiko took a deep, shaky breath. "I don't need whatever god damn speech you've prepared to turn me down," she didn't try to stop her voice from raising, "I just wish this stupid day never happened!"
"You, you think I want to turn you down? Kimiko, I'm happy, you feel the same way!"
Her eyes sharpened. "Don't lie to me."
Raimundo faltered, surprised by her reaction. "Why would I?"
"Because I am clearly not your type," she yelled. "I have seen the girls you flirt with every chance you get! Hell, just last week you flirted with at least three different blondes! I am neither that tall, blonde, or curvy. I am the complete opposite of what you constantly throw yourself at!"
"Kimi, I—"
"No, Pedrosa. You listen!" She screamed at the young man, tears freely running down her face. "If you truly have feelings for me like I do for you, your actions have only screwed you over. I don't trust your feelings for me, and I doubt I ever will!"
She breathed heavily, roughly wiping her hands over her eyes to remove the tears, missing those forming in her teammate's eyes.
"I wish today never happened," she spoke slowly, calmer than before, "I even said I never wanted to tell you, but I am not, nor will I ever be those beach loving girls you always end up drawn to,"
With her words spoken, she turned to jog towards the fields to finally be left alone.
Raimundo stood, staring at the spot she just stood. His body aching from her words. All this time, what could have been...
"Partner?"
The hand on his left shoulder brought the monk out of his thoughts.
"I really fucked up this time, didn't I?"
Clay sighed as he gripped his hand on Raimundo's shoulder. "I really don't know how this one can be fixed,"
AN: After 3 different 'K' prompts, 5 attempts at writing, we finally had a winner!
Read and Review!
Feel free to leave prompt suggestions.