The final blow came one cool morning.
Jack woke up beside Kimiko. He laid in silence trying to recall what had happened the night before. As usual, all he remembered was the ecstasy felt in her arms. He never wanted those arms to let him go, but they did. Now she was asleep, but soon she'd be awake and the pain would come.
Kimiko's eyes flickered open. Jack looked down at her and smiled. Kimiko's eyes widened as she shoved him away from herself. Pulling a dagger out from beneath her bed mat, Kimiko threw the blade at Jack. It ploughed through his left shoulder, barely missing his heart. Jack laid on the floor panting and moaning in pain as Kimiko ran off.
The blood leaked from his shoulder into her bed mat. He was saddened that he was dirtying her things. Slowly, he stumbled to his feet. Putting on his coat, he folded up the bed mat and carried it to the nearby stream where he'd clean it for her.
As Jack walked through the temple, he found Kimiko crying to Rai. Heat filled Jack's face. His heart ached so badly. Rai glanced at him in understanding. Jack walked off with the bloody bed roll.
Later he returned with the roll and hung it on a line to dry. It was quiet around the temple today. Jack couldn't figure out why, but he had made it into the temple without seeing a single dragon. He sighed in relief as he leaned on one of the banisters and looked out at the courtyard. He sighed at how the beauty so resembled his dear Kimiko. His mind got lost on the thought of her overwhelming beauty. He wanted to hold her right then and there, but he didn't want to suffer the consequences.
"Hey, Jack."
Jack turned to find Clay leaning on the banister beside him.
"What's up?" Jack asked lightly.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," Jack laughed, "I'm fine!"
He turned to the dragon.
Clay's blue eyes widened, "Uh, Jack? Is that a knife in your shoulder?"
Jack looked down, "Why, yes it is!" he looked up and smiled.
"We gotta get that out of you before…"
"Look, I find it amazing how you are all so ready to help me, but when I abuse poor Kimiko, you turn the other cheek. Please, stop trying to help me and my wretched life. It isn't worth your time…"
"Okay, Jack," Clay altered his tactics, "But I wouldn't want you going around with a blade sticking out of your chest. You might hurt someone."
"Like my dear Kimiko!" Jack gasped and then he relaxed, "No. This could be a blessing. It could help me wean myself off her. I mean, with this knife here, we can't exactly touch each other without her getting hurt. Therefore, we'll both lose interest and that'll be that!"
"Jack!"
Jack turned the other way.
"Kimiko!"
"What happened to you?" she screeched.
"Huh?" he smiled, "Nothing, why?"
"There's a knife sticking out of you! What happened? Who did this to you? Jack! What's going on?" she was weeping.
Jack reached out and gently touched her on the cheek.
"Everything is fine," he murmured, "Everything is just fine, my dear."
"Jack," she shook hear head, "That's not good. It has to come out and you need help…"
Jack rested a finger on her worried lips, "No. it's fine where it is. It isn't hurting anyone.
"Jack?" tears streamed down her face.
"it's happy here, in my chest. It's there so that I'll treat you better…"
"What?"
"Kimiko, this will stop me from abusing you!" his smile was maddening.
"I…"
"It's a blessing Kimiko. Now we can love each other at a distance. Who needs touch? That's just a superfluous add-on to life. Sure it can feel good, but it can hurt too, this just stops it all."
"I don't understand, Jack… Who did this to you?"
Jack just smiled stupidly.
"You did," Clay said as he faced Kimiko.
"What?" she screamed, "How can you say that, Clay?"
"'Cause ya' did."
"No," she cried, "I didn't…"
"Yeah," Clay murmured, "Ya' did."
"How?" she barked, "How and why would I do this to Jack? I love him!"
"Kimiko, there's something wrong with you. You seem to think you love him when all you do is treat him worse'n dirt. You put that knife in his chest, Kimiko!"
"You really think so, huh, Clay?" she walked around Jack and pulled the knife out of his back, "Well, if that's the case, then I took it out too."
"Amazing," Clay said unenthusiastically.
"Come on, Jack," she slung his arm over her shoulder and lead him back to her room, "Let's get you fixed up."
As he was lead away, Jack looked back at Clay and smiled. Things wouldn't go on like this for much longer. Clay knew what Jack was going to do.