This chapter is rather short, but the next one is gunna be long, lots of plot. And some smut...

The light pitter patter of easy rain, tapped gently on the windowpane. A soft golden glow of the candle light painted walls in a gentle hymn of yellows. But the squeeze of folded arms and a kiss of the teeth was the only thing on the mind. Raimundo tapped his bare foot loudly on the wooden floor below. Dojo could not meet The dragon warrior's eyes, they looked down at the floor, snake eyes thinning as he was clearly not cooperating.

Without a notice the small green dragon hopped off the warmth of the bed and slithered out of the room, not uttering a word.

Ria grumbled out in annoyance. Frustrating it was to be dismissed by a friend, but dropped his shoulders as he sighed in defeat. Lips pressed tight came loose as he turned to gaze over at Kimiko.

"What's with him?" Kimiko asked over to him, Rai could only drop a brow as he weight creaked the bed were he joined her. He was nearly falling off the edge, with he back turned right beside Kimiko.

"Beats me." He sighed. "Can you tell me everything, that happened." His back leaned forward as forearms dropped between his legs. He stiffened as Kimiko's small warm hand pressed between his shoulder blades. He swallowed as his body froze in its tracks. He palm readiated heat through the terry cloth of his robe, warmth that spread through his chest to creep up to his cheeks.

"Sit at the end of the bed, and let me relay what happened." She nearly whispered. He turned a bit, brows set in question as he got up.

Ria complied as he readjusted himself, Kimiko sat on crossed legs, Sitting proper and dignified as if she was a princess herself, her eyes fell serous as she told her leader the events that had pasted. Now Rai had learned a bit from the others, Clay and Omi. She was diligent, her soft enough for him to her, but the words she chose where firm as she relayed the information.

"And she cut through the largest swell of haylin fire I'd ever seen." She rasps. "With a Shen Gon Wu, a katana."

Rai nodded, his brows pressed as many thoughts raced in his minds. Tucking a stray bang behind his ears he huffed out a gruff sigh.

"It was hard to believe even though I witnessed it myself. She never once faltered. She was.." Kimiko paused as her teeth pulled bowstring lips. "-Frightening."

"So, some stone warrior came back to life, beat the crap out of Chase and Omi. And now our only source has tight lips, plus we don't even know where she is." He crossed his arms as he digressed. Kimiko looked away as she let her eyes fall shut. Her brows were tight as his words seemed to hurt her pride.

"If it wasn't for the magic of the showdown, Omi would have-" She cut herself off as she chewed on her bottom lip, her words watered enough to choke on.

"Rest, we will rally and leave in the morning." He assured, his words fell with ease that gave her a soft comfort. Ria helped her readjust to lay back down on the bed, his large hand lingered on her own for a brief moment before he reluctantly excused himself.

"Rai." Her voice a whisper that stopped him a the door frame. Her turned his neck to look over at her. She looked cozy, her cheeks warm and hair fanning around her. Despite her injury she looked inviting.

"Night." She smiled. He turned away, to hide his flush, and the last trickles of the shame he bared.

"You too."

Dojo had gone off, and despite Raimundos peeping around he was unable to find where he could of gone. The boys took to their own shared chamber to rest for the night. The room was rather small wooded floors and traditional Japanese walls. Futon beds lay on wooden floors with large heavy looking blankets and each bed just one cylinder pillow, the room was rather dark with little natural light peering through a small window high on the walls.

Omi's neck felt stiff on the cylindrical pillow under his head. He groaned lightly as he tossed and turned each side he lay on gave little release to the torment he felt. Clay's loud snoring made sleeping a fleeting dream in a racing mind.

His eyes shut as thin brows pressed tight. There he re-lived his fight with her. The girl in red, hair like ash with a still lit coal. Pricing blood moon eyes slit like a tiger, her anger and... her sadness. He knew that's what it was, the way her voice seemed to break as full brows knitted so tightly. The flicker of her eyes true nature, was it anger that turned them red? Or perhaps blood lust, but it was those eyes. Amethysts in twilight, like streaked through them like a falling star.

He grit his teeth as he shamed his own memory. How could he pity her, she aimed to take his life. Her strike was true, and her rage palpable, a raging inferno. He sighed loudly as he rolled on his back, arms falling long to his sides.

"Whats on your mind little guy?" Ria asked, arm pressed up with a bent leg. He nearly gasped, as eye drew wide, then faltered.

"Oh Raimundo, sleep seems to be endeavoring with me." He sighs.

Ria chuckled lightly and teeth broke a smile.
"Do you mean escaping you?" He grins, no matter how much time seems to go by, and no matter how much Omi grows, some things never seem to change.

Omi nodded, before letting out another breathy sigh.

"It's just I cant stop thinking about that girl." He admits. "Ame, her name was."

Ria's eyes sharpen as they look over his distraught friend.

"What about her." The question begged to be asked.

"Something was off about her, I don't think she was in her right mind. Its hard to describe but, I feel like.."

Rai propped himself up on his arm as thick brows crossed. This caught Omi's attention and he quickly changed his words.

"She knew Dashi, and she just had this, grief.." Omi felt he was rambling, but it was the only way to describe what he felt.

"You don't have to forgive everyone Omi, I wont forgive anyone who aims to take a life. Let alone one of my friends." Riamundo's words felt cold on Omi's heart. Ria fell into the floor-bed and turned his back to Omi, adjusting on the stiff pillow under his neck.

"Tomorrow we are headed back to the temple, get some rest." His words an order that made Omi scowl. He could tell Ria was bothered. Perhaps not by his compassion for a foe, but the collateral damage that foe had done. Omi would find little rest, as he re-thinks the fight between them, and Chase.

Morning took a long time to come, Riamundo rose when the sweat on his top lip the heat was too much to bare. The room was humid and stuffy, Omi stirred as Clay's loud snoring was relentless. He huffed and shifted out of the hot room, leaving the door opened a crack to ventilate it.

Sunrise had not yet come, and the moon was still in the sky, faded and blue clouds filled the air. He huffed, dragging his feet has his hands dug into his robes pockets. Ria was wandering, feet taking him to were his mind refused to admit, after a short jest he swallowed. He had found himself outside Kimiko's hut, May flies littered the wall, as the sound of raking could be faintly heard in the background. He grumbled running thick fingers through brown locks. What is he doing? There is no way shes awake, a fool hes become. He couldn't shake the desire to be in her presence, her injuries making him restless with worry.

A shaken hand came up with abandon just an inch away from the bamboo mat blocking the door entrance. He sucked a breath as he reached for the final inch.

"Watcha doin'?"

The sudden question ripped a loud yelp from Ria's lungs. His hand shook and his heart thumped. Eyes darted down with arched brows to the source of his embarrassing fright.

Dojo stood, sleepy eye'd with a heavy mug of steaming tea held in two small lizard paws.

"Morin' Captin'." Dojo teased as he took a sip from his mug. "Off to wake Kimiko?"

Rai felt a sweat run down his back that made him shift his weight to his other foot.

"No." He lied. The broken sweat not lost on Dojo's thousand year old eyes. Dojo snickered, taking a sip of hot matcha tea.

"She's snoring like Clay in there if you wanna wake her." He jokes, Rias brows fell as he scratched the back of his head.

"I think i'll pass." He huffs, an awkward pause falls over them. Dojo felt it and decided to tatically retreat.

"Nah ah." Rias smooth words halted him in his tracks. "We need to talk, buddy." The gulp Dojo could be made not lost and Raimundo, a smile teased his lips as Dojo turned round. Face distraught like a Dog caught rummaging in the trash.

They had relocated, to an old meditation room Rianumdo remembered from the last time he paid a visit to the northern temple. Monks had just began their days, sweeping the floors and humming gentle tunes. A large rake dragged through small pebbles, of the stone zen garden.

Dojo and Ria sat down on stiff floor pillows. His knees cracks as he sighed, sitting on his calves he gave a bow of respect to Dojo.

"I'll get it going, who the hell is this Ame chick?" He asks, tone strong that made Dojo sag. Out ranked, and forced to comply he adjusted his tail to coil around himself, nestled like a snake on an egg he looked into his reflection in the mug.

"I don't even know where to start." He admits.

"The beginning, please."

The room ran a chill even within the humidity, locking eyes with Raimindo, he watched him stiffen.

"Her name is Ame, as you know. She was the first Dragon of fire. But not only that, but Dashi's apprentice."

"What?" He almost yelled, mouth hung like a fish. The Grandmaster Dashi? Rai's mind was now a buzz.

"Yeah... The kid and Dashi where pretty close. She just kinda showed up with him, I'd never seen her before thinking back. She was a weird and creepy kid. Pretty, but off putting. Stronger than most I've ever met. In fact, the reason the elements are referred to as dragons, was because Dashi made her the second monk the make the rank. Hence her name, The Dragon, of fire."

Rai let himself be quiet, soaking up the information like a sponge as Dojo spoke.

"I didn't know, who she really was, Dashi had kept that part a secret. I think the only reason he made her his apprentice was just for a title. It was really just to protect her."

"From what- protect her from what." Raimundo asked, jaw clenching.

"From the entire country she had savaged with fire."

The fire crackled and popped, dried wood beaten black with the rage bellowed from Ame. She let out a shallow pant, mouth gritted down as tears fell from red eyes. They glow like ruby's, reflecting light from the fire, glowing like starlight. Chase held his tone as he stared into them. He began to stand, lifting himself from the ground, his robe disheveled, a long muscular leg cut through the breaking folds of his midnight robe.

"You have no idea-" She chokes, "What you are talking about." She tries to glare through tears, the room looking muddied through her eyes. "I do, as a matter of fact." His taunts dark that makes her growl in frustration. He always speaks so arrogantly, it boils her blood.

"You see girl, I know all about you. What you really are. Or should I say, what you became." His words chill her as she breaks through the final drop of her tears. they fall cold on her tensed hands.

The pause is tense, neither breathed or blinked as it strangled them. But then Chase, tilts his head as a gruff chuckles leaves a bastardy smirk.

The cord snapped! Both launching at each other attempting to shred each other into submission. Blood red claws slash at Chases chest, he lets out a beastly growl as the four drags draw blood against his peck. Fist fly and kicks are blocked. Ame let out a ragged pant. She took a step back into a podium, the glass box rattled flinching her attention.

Her eyes snapped back but Chase was gone. Quickly she spun trying to find where he could be hiding. The light was faint, and her eyes burned to little avail.

"Now, now, now..." His voice broke the darkness in an echo, she growled trying to place the location, as it seemed to be coming from all around.

"Dashi told me a few more secrets about you. About what happened with your father. What it did to you"

She tensed as her eyes squinted.

"All about, your noble sacrifice. IT was all for not wasn't it."

She grit her teeth and clenched her fists. She could take no more as she bolted for the door, still open leading off to a dark hall. The break worked, Chase sprung from the shadows, as Ame dropped her weight to the floor, spinning on her elbow, tripping him with a spinning kick to his ankle.

He fell into a tumble, but was quick to fix himself, bouncing on the back of his hands, flipping forward with a steady boom.

He huffed, hair wild as he grinned. His eyes turn to glow amber as snake eyes split into this slivers.

Ame found her feet and glared at him, her robe was burned and tattered. Chase trailed his eyes shamefully down her neck and collar bone.

"Buta." she spat. He only chuckled as he composed himself. Thirty passes between them. Stands knocked over and broken glass littered the floor. He walked over it like hot coals, crunching under his foot he didn't even flinch.

"There is no reason for us to fight, I am actually trying to help you." He wears the devils smile.

Her face could only be described as "Yeah right" as she huffed. She took fighting stance, red fading from her eyes as she felt the last of it slipping from her.

Chase pounced with a demonic growl, her eyes widened as she barrel rolled the side, jumping on the railing between the floors balancing like a bird on a wire, bent forward she felt her weight tremble, she was all to aware at what he was referring to, and it made her squirm.

"So Dashi took in a war criminal? Why?" Riamindo felt the stress of the conversation. His chest tight as he gripped the cloth of the robe over his knees.

"Why indeed." Dojo rasps, the last of his tea now cold on his gums.

"To stop her father. The Haylin Dragon. Or as she knew him, The Shogun no Zetsubo. You see that man and Ame where linked, her father possessed a massive amount of chaotic haylin energy. Between them, it was kept to a tandem. If Ame was the good side of the coin that he was the thick black evil, together a ying to a yang, so to speak. The amount was too much for one person to posses, it would rip them to shreds, and blanket the world in-"

"Eternal darkness?" Ria interrupts, the phrase all to common in his line of work.

"Eternal Ash." He corrects, dropping Rai's gestured arm.

"Once Ame left to join Dashi, their link became severed. And the power swelled as it massed. The spread of the ash did a swell. For 10 years it rained over a small pocket of land, but without Ame-"

Dojo sighed.

"Without her, it exploded, Wuya got involved, thirsty for some of that power for herself. I'm not sure what she did to the Shogun, but it made him mad. He went ballistic, as the raw power spewed from him. Ame and Dashi worked day and night to fight against him."

"You see, in order to defeat the girls father. Well-" His words choked him a bit. "They did it, but all that haylin energy burst into the world, and it- It needed a host."

The realization fell on Raimundo as he gasped. Dojo took this in, feeling like he had no more to say.
"Yeah- so he had to seal the girl away." He sighs, the sadness was palpable, making Ria swallow.

"I'm going to wake everyone." He spoke rising from a knee. "It looks like we have another fight on our hands." Without another word Riamindo left the room, making headway to were he left his companions sleeping.

Tense between them again. Their brawl continued till Ame was fatigued. She was panting ragged, strength drying up, her arms bent as she locked hands with Chase. He pushed her back into wall, his large hands cracking hers in his vice grip. He snarled as he slammed her back against the cold hard wall. She gasped as her hands where pinned beside her ears. strands of long hair fell over smitten bangs, Chases blood under her finger nails as he forced a muscled leg between hers.

"You wont last long. You must know this." He taunts, his face dark as he bent down to her level. She fought the feeling to loose herself in his eyes. Her brows dipped as she looked away. He wasn't referring to her fleeting strength. Despite the beating she just took this was more painful.

"It will rip you to shreds. That cuff is enchanted, but it wont keep it at bay forever. You will be torn to shreds when it exposed from you"

"So what?" Her eyes fell shut as her head tilted away, bangs covering an eye as her brows arched upwards. "let it." she breathes in defeat.

"Don't spit that pathetic weakness to me. I wont let that darkness rip the world apart." Her eyes meet his, he can already see the haylin magic behind them.

"I care not for you, though ripping you apart is amusing at best. The haylin power needs a host." He drops a hand to grip her chin, turning her face back to him. "You can control a world if it is no longer?" Her head tilts as his hands move from her wrists to her hands, eyes locking as his brows set. "You're just like my father." The words a snarl as she huffed.

"See that's where you are wrong." Large hands feel hot as they intertwine with hers. She puts up such a fight, though her hands feels so small in my own.

"You think you are enough to handle it?" She huffs in annoyance at this mans arrogance. He purrs at their sharp eye contact, eyes trail down to her swollen lips.

"There's so much more to the story than you know, I am much more than your father ever was, and you will give yourself to me." with that his lips crash into hers again, she lets out a muffled whine in surprise as Chase nibbles on her bottom lip. Her nails claw into the back of his hands as she squirms in his grasp.

He leaves her lips, her breath a huff as a small strand of saliva connects their lips.

Shes huffing, breath tight as her eyes grew weary. Realization hit him as he dropped his hands from her to scoop the small of her back. She had nearly fainted.

"You are already loosing time dear." He speaks down to her, lifting her from her feet to carry her like a bride.

"I don't want it anyways." her face is pressed against on of his pecks, the fabric feels soft on her cheek as she dips in and out. "I just didn't want Dashi to take anymore burdens for me." Sweat breaks over her as her small plea lands on sharp ears.

"rest."

Next chapter will be a lot of plot, Dashi will be there.

also BUTA what ame calls chase means "pig"