Chapter 10

"What on the planet happened to your face!" Omi exclaimed.

His roommate, Shin-ji, had just entered their room as he was meditating. His entire left cheek was covered in a bloody bandage! The wound underneath was healing fast, but still peeked out from behind its covering. It looked like a giant cat had slashed him with its claws…

"That's 'what on earth' Omi." Clay said instinctively from his bed in the opposite room. Their doors had been left open to let in air, and they had been talking back and forth. Getting up, Clay put his shirt and shoes on and walked to his friend's door. "What are you talkin' about little partner? I don't—"

He stopped and looked at the silent, cat-eyed Shin-ji, who looked at both at them with venom. "What DID happen to you, hombre?"

Mag came up behind Clay and looked at the mute Chinese boy. His face was serious and concerned, but looked at him without shocked curiosity. Walking up cautiously toward him, he reached up and touched Shin-ji's wound.

Omi waited for the boy to lash out at the Frenchman, but, to his surprise, he didn't react! In fact, he looked comfortable with it! What was it about Mag that calmed him?

Shin-ji sat down on his mat/bed and Mag knelt by his side. Taking off the blood-spattered, makeshift bandage, he studied the lacerations. It looked as if a paw with five long claws had swatted the boy in the face. The gashes looked as if they were healing extremely quick, but he was more concerned with an infection.

Speaking in sign language, Charlemagne asked. "How long ago did this happen? I know you've been gone since Tuesday."

Shin-ji signed back, "Wednesday, I went away to train and got attacked."

The answer was fast, and was obviously a lie, but Mag paid no attention. Signing, he said, "Wednesday? Today is Saturday, so that was three days ago. It's healing well, just make sure to put some antiseptic and aloe on it for now. Come see me afterward and I'll stitch up some areas that need it, so they can heal better."

Shin-ji nodded, the icy glare in his eyes seemed to melt unsurely, as if he wasn't used to kindness.

"How do you do that thing with your hands, Mag?" Omi asked, popping over the European's shoulder.

Both boys turned and stared down at him with looks that could kill. Omi of course, didn't get it and kept smiling like an idiot, waiting for an answer.

Clay grabbed by his arm and pushed him out the door. "Now's not the right time, partner. Shouldn't you be getting to the train station? You don't want to be late."

During the weekends, the students had their days off and could go do whatever they wanted. Some went on vacation, while others visited their families, like Omi was going to do this time. He was anxious to see Master Fung and Dojo, and been a little homesick.

Everything else forgotten, he grabbed his bag and hurried away. "Thank you for reminding me, Clay. Tell Raimundo and Kimiko congratulations for me. I'll see you later!"

Clay waved goodbye as the boy left, before turning back to Mag. The blonde got up and approached the Texan, while furtively watching Shin-ji go in the bathroom to treat his wounds.

When he was gone, Mag said, "Merci, Clay. It's not that I dislike the petit garçon, but he just annoys the heck out of me! I mean, Mon Dieu! Ever since he made fun of my name."

Clay shook his head, smiling in slight embarrassment. "Hey, don't hold it against 'im. He's just a little sheltered, that's all."

He silently nodded back in response.

Putting a hand on his roommate's shoulder, the American looked him in the eye. "What about him? I don't know what you said, or signed, to him, but I do know a liar when you see one."

Mag smiled in return, "I know. Kama and I are some of the only ones here who know sign language, so that shrinks the bridge between us. I also have a degree in medicine, I should put it to use. Shin-ji and I have a relationship, where I look out for him, and he for me. But it's understood that we never ask questions of each other. If he doesn't want to tell me the truth, he has a reason."

Clay shook his head, "I don't think I could do that it."

"It just takes faith. I have always believed in Le Dieu et Son Fils. And my belief helps me through the tough times, when I really miss my sister. It helps me heal, and helps me, to help others like Shin-ji."

The Texan smiled, totally understanding. Looking at his watch, he jumped in shock. "What in 'tarnation! I've got to go! Vicki's waitin'."

Mag looked at his own watch. "Oui, I have to get going too. Where are you going?"

"Home, to Texas. We're going to visit my family. Next week, we'll visit hers. What about you?"

"Skiing in the Alps, mon père and I are going to get some time in before the season's over. I'm going to finish up with Shin-ji, then get out of here. By the way, what did the little cheese ball mean by congratulations to Rai and Kim?"

"Oh, that?" Clay proceeded to explain to the Frenchman.

When he had finished, Mag nodded smiling, "That's great. Tell them the same from me."

"Sure." Clay responded as he left, heading toward Vicki and Kimiko's room. Knocking on the door, he announced himself. "Hey, V.C., it's me."

The door hissed open as Vicki came out, carrying an overnight bag and dressed in a light green trench coat. "Alright, I'm ready darlin'. Give the word."

Clay could only look at her in adoring awe. Her beautiful sea-green eyes went perfectly with her coat. Her slender, but shapely figure shifted sensually underneath her clothes. He just couldn't take it anymore!

Grabbing her shapely waist, he swung her into his arms. "I have a mind to just kiss you right now."

Vic, swept away both emotionally and physically, looked deep into the clear blue waters of her beloved's eyes. It seemed as if they had known of each other for forever, and as she looked into his eyes, she knew that he had stolen her heart…a heart she had let him take freely…

Her favorite movie had always been West Side Story. The singing, the dances, the music, and the beautiful but tragic love story, it always seemed powerful to her. Now I can understand what Maria felt when she was with Tony. This is a feeling I've never felt. It's even stronger than my want to be a Texas Ranger. I never knew...

Curling her fingers around his sunny blond hair, she pushed it behind his ear and out of his face. Then she put them intimately on his lips, "When you kiss me, it will be the first one I have ever given a boy freely. In my family, a kiss signals the seal of an agreement between a woman and a man. That he is asking for her to be his for all time, and that he will be hers. When you are prepared for that day, I shall be waitin'."

Nodding he smiled and put her back on her feet. "Is Kimi in there?"

She shook her head, "Naw, she just left too. She was happier than a bunch of fresh fish surrounding a big fat worm."

"She should be." He told her just what he told Mag.

After he had finished, she beamed, "She's probably just downstairs. Give her my congrats as well."

He bowed and led her to the door. "My lady, will you wait for me outside. I shall only be a minute."

She playfully pushed his hat down on his head. "I'll be waitin', darlin'."

He watched her go down the stairs, admiring her from afar. I can't think of anyone I would rather spend my life with. So why am I so scared?

Still thinking about it, he walked down to find Kimiko.

Raimundo wiped the sweat from his face. The combat dummies at the end of the training room had been torn to shreds, the result of his new Lightning Wind Blade technique. Kakashi had taught him, revealing to the nineteen year-old, that though he knew how to meagerly manipulate all four elements, his first and natural element was the wind. Kakashi had been a great help, since they had arrived a month ago. He had learned tons of new techniques and styles, and he finally had the chance to spread out and open his wings. To get away from the close quarters of his first home, and into freedom.

He put his hand on his heart, the beat strong and steady. He breathed a sigh of relief. I've got a long way to go, but I'm getting stronger. I can do much more than I was able to do a month ago. It's been hard, but it has to be done. I will NOT let this thing take control of me. No, it will be the other way around. I'll bend its will into my own.

He slowly stood up, readying his body to do the next set of training techniques.

Kimiko walked through the door, her hair done in bright red, which matched her baby blue clothes. "Alright Senõr, time to get out of those sweaty clothes! It's the weekend, the time where all of us students are free to go where we please and…"

Rai stopped her with one hand, and kept manipulating air currents with the other. "Sorry Kim-ko, I can't. Find someone else to go with you."

"Oh, come on, Raimundo." She grabbed him around his shoulders. "That's enough for today. You need some energy for the trip!"

Shifting from underneath her grasp, he said with his voice dripping irritation. "Not now, Kimiko."

Her mind could sense the oncoming storm, but her heart refused to acknowledge it. She put her hand on his shoulder, stopping him, snapping him out of his concentration and his training. "Rai, that's enough…"

Grasping her hand firmly, Rai removed it from his body. His irritation was crossing to testiness, and slowly becoming anger. His voice could have ground diamonds. "Kimiko, I'll tell you again, nicely. I don't care what you do, just someone else to do it with."

Releasing her, she took a step back; her mind in a flux of emotions, began to awaken her temper. Her voice began to reflect hard disbelief, "You're kidding right? Please tell me you're kidding."

Rai stopped once again, the wind in the room becoming absolutely still. "Kimiko…" His voice was dangerously quiet, but she paid no attention.

"No, Rai. Don't tell me you don't remember. Please tell me this is a joke. Tell me it's a joke!"

His temper began to overflow. Whirling around, he raised his arm and pitched it forward violently, throwing his water bottle at the wall, shattering it! His aim just narrowly missed Kim's face…

"Do I LOOK like I'm kidding, to you! I don't know whether your blind or not, but there is clearly no smile on my face!" he said, raising his voice into a strong crescendo.

Her anger and voice rose to match, "No, and there hasn't been one on there for a long time! Raimundo, how could you forget? After all our planning, after all the sacrifices I made—"

"What have I forgotten! WHAT sacrifices! I'm the one who's suffering here! I'm trying to purge this thing from my soul, for your sake. But you—no, not just you—all of you have been making this harder for me! You don't understand, or even care to try."

Kimiko couldn't believe she was hearing this! "What are you talking about! Rai, we're your family! We would do anything to help you! I have been here, trying to do the best to my ability. Everyone wants to understand, but how can they if you keep pushing us away! Do you know how much I looked forward to this! I haven't asked anything else of you. I've given all my energy and time to you. I've forfeited parts of my life for you! I no longer think about myself, but only for you! For your needs, your hurts, your pain, I take them on myself so that you won't feel the full burden! And yet, you've forgotten!"

Rai began to tremble with an anger, which was turning into a slow rage. He turned away from her, trying to calm himself. Speaking through gritted teeth, "The only thing, that I seem to have forgotten, was how to tell you to shut up…"

Kimiko felt her built up anger, suddenly deflate into nothing. His words stinging, like a slap to the face. Her voice became softer. "Raimundo? Don't you know we love you? I love you? We're only trying to help you."

Reaching out, she went around him and touched his chest, feeling the strong beat of his heart. "I want to share this load with you, this pain. I want to know what you feel. All of this training is just going to tear you apart—I can feel it. Please, even if you don't remember, let me remind you of what we were, what we are. I love you."

Touching her hand, his thoughts mixed. Is she really trying to help me? Abruptly, his heart and mind filled with sudden distrust, doubt, and anger. No, she doesn't care. She doesn't understand. How could anyone understand what I've been through? They're all mocking me, holding me back. They want to have me bound forever, they've been jealous ever since I came back. Clay, Omi, even Kimiko, they've been playing me for a fool. Well, no more.

Kimiko felt him gently take hold of her hand. Her heart sprung out with joy. He remembers!

But her happiness turned to shock as he grasped her had tighter, and with one sudden move, thrust her away—throwing her into the wall!

Falling to the ground from the impact, Kimiko struggled to get up. Crawling up from the ground and onto her knees, she looked at the man who had thrown her—the man she loved…

"Raimundo, I-I only…I only want to h-help you…"

He didn't make a move to help her, but only stood there with a cold iciness in his green eyes. "If you want to help me Kimiko. If you really want to help me. Leave me alone. Stay away from me."

The mixture and flux of emotions that rolled and built up within her finally broke down, washing the façade she had built within her mind, away. Tears flowed silently and unbidden from her eyes, and her chest felt as if it would burst. Picking herself up, she turned away from him. She struggled to find her voice, her soul coming to a final resolution. "Fine, Rai. I'll…I'll leave you alone. I-I'll stay away."

Her legs felt like lead as she walked away, but…she didn't care. She didn't care about anything anymore…

Once she reached the door, she stopped, their backs to one another. "I guess I knew it all along, I just refused to believe it. That—that you had changed. It's just that you forgetting…made me see the truth."

Rai twisted around to face her in rage. "What in Hell is it that I've bloody forgotten!"

Her back was still turned to him, as she tried to make sense of the chaos in her soul, and having no success…

"I-I will leave you alone—altogether. I'll leave you…with the one thing left, t-that I have t-to give."

She turned to face him.

Rai had to take a step back. He had never seen her like that before. Her face…it scared him. He had seen her angry. He had seen her sad. He had seen her irritated. But, this…this was different. There was no emotion, no feeling…nothing at all. Her face showed total and complete placidity.

Like her face, her voice was also soft and emotionless. "Happy Anniversary."

With that parting word, she slipped from the room, like a wisp of smoke to the wind.

Rai watched her go, his subconscious, urging him to go after her. With every power within him, he squashed that feeling, and turned away from the doorway. He again began his exercises, trying to wipe her face from his mind. Convincing himself, that he had done the right thing—for both of them.

From two different sides , two pairs of eyes had watched the whole thing. One set were blue as the sea, and looked at the Brazilian with utter disgust and anger.

The other pair were eclipsed like a cat's or a viper's, fiery gold and orange. They looked on with a slight smile, intrested in the sudden turn of events...