"Please shut up, Spicer,"

Kimiko's eyes rolled at the unwanted company. Having drawn the short straw, she was stuck with him for the day.

"Look, I get it, it's not the same while Omi's stuck in the past—"

"No thanks to?"

"No thanks to me," Jack grumbled. "But I see how secretive you and Clay are at times, and how he'll go on expeditions where Raimundo's been sighted,"

Halting her walk, her hands held her hips as she glared at the proclaimed boy genius. "If you have something to say, then say it,"

"What's going on with you and Raimundo?"

"Nothing." she continued walking.

"You're lying,"

"Jack, we still can't explain how I hurt my head a few months back," she reminded him, "Clay just wants to be cautious. We can't afford to lose each other, right now we're all that's left,"

"I'm here!" he whined.

Turning to the adolescent, Kimiko poked his chest. "That's because you haven't had a recent opportunity to sell us out,"

"One time, Kimiko, let it slide!"

"No!"

Watching her walk ahead, Jack reached forward, grabbing her arm. Twisting her torso to face him.

"Is it true we're low on food supplies?" he quietly asked.

"Where did you…"

"Just tell me, Kimiko,"

Relaxing her features, she dropped her glare. "Yeah," her shoulders weighing down in defeat. "It's bad, Jack,"

"Is that why you're giving your rations to survivors instead of yourself?" he watched her look to her arm, thinner than before. "You need the food, too,"

"But so do the children," she admitted, "I can't in any good conscience, let them go hungry,"

A slow clap pulled the two apart, Kimiko changing her stance to fight. Schooling her features at the intruders.

"Well, would you look at that," Wuya cooed, "Do my eyes deceive me, or has romance risen amongst a war?"

Turning her head to Raimundo, she continued to grin as he leaned, arms folded, against a tree. His expression neutral.

"If that's what you're seeing, you need your head screwing back on," Kimiko spat.

The Heylin witch chuckled, admiring her fingernails as she spoke. "Where's your camp, Kimiko?"

"No clue," she smirked.

"Jack?"

Eyes widening, Kimiko looked to Jack.

"What's in it for me?" he nervously asked.

"Say a fucking word and I'll end you," Kimiko threatened.

A scoff came from the other group. Looking over, Kimiko watched Raimundo shake his head, smirking as he spoke to Wuya, "Starting to think you were wrong on that romance,"

"Deal with Spicer, I've been waiting to fight Kimiko," Wuya ordered.

A quick glance at Kimiko and Raimundo moved towards Jack. Watching him cower at his approach.

"No, no, I have information!"

"Like?" Wuya asked.

"Don't you dare Jack!" Kimiko screamed. Wuya's hand grasping her neck while distracted.

"I'd start talking, Spicer," Raimundo warned.

"She's weak – Kimiko – we're low on food, she's been giving hers to kids, she won't win in a fight against you,"

Watching the girl in her grasp, she noted her lacking retaliation. Preserving her energy. "Interesting," swinging her foot forward, Wuya watched with wicked delight as Kimiko fell to the floor, shakily pushing herself up.

"What else?" she ordered.

"Jack, don't!"

Pulling his arm back, Raimundo readied his punch as Jack covered his face with his arms, shouting, "Omi's missing!"

Now that got their attention. Looking at Kimiko, Raimundo saw the desperation in her eyes. The Xiaolin's biggest secret revealed.

"Define missing," Wuya asked, her grin stretching across her face.

Channelling the flames to her fist, Kimiko swung forward, aiming for Wuya's chest.

The witch jumped back, grinning at the attempted distraction. "Deal with him, Raimundo,"

Sharp nails glinting in the light, Wuya jumped forward, directing her foot at the girl.

"Woah, come on Raimundo, I can give you more info,"

"Not interested," he growled, pulling his fist back ready.

Panicked, Jack glanced at the two women fighting, neither paying them attention.

"She says your name – in her sleep,"

"What?" he breathed. Brows crossing at the thought. "How would you know?"

"Man has his ways," he narrowly avoided the punch, shrieking as it came. "When you left, she cried, I mean, really cried that night. I don't think she knows I saw her,"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Fire!"

A wall of fire roared around Wuya. The witch screaming as she slashed through the flames.

"Wuya!"

Raimundo ran to the fire, seeing Kimiko hold it as long as possible before making her escape into the forest. Using his element, he drew the air from the flames, releasing Wuya of her burning prison.

"You good?" he asked.

Searching around her, she growled at the empty space, Jack having ran during the mayhem. Looking at her hand, she watched the blood trickle down her nails.

"She's hurt," Wuya spoke with delight, "Stupid girl shouldn't make it too far, sooner or later a patrol will find her," she turned to Raimundo, "Tell me when they have her,"

"Will do,"

"So, the little idiot's missing, huh?" she spoke to herself, smiling at the discovery, "I wonder how long they've kept that from us,"

"I've only seen Clay recently, thought they were trying something new,"

"All shall be revealed, especially now there's only two left to deal with,"

Her pace slowed. The world around her tilting in multiple directions. Looking to her abdomen, she saw the blood seep through her clothes, the pressure of her arm weakening.

She was stupid. For once in his life, Jack was right. She needed the food to fight. But those innocent children? They needed to see a better future. She needed them to live.

Stumbling, Kimiko dropped to her knees. Hunching to press her arm further into her abdomen. It wasn't a deep cut, but it was enough to continue its steady bleed.

She had to keep moving. Someone would surely find her at this rate.

Jack was going to pay for ever opening his mouth.

A twig snapped.

Turning her head, she looked for any sign of life.

Two hands on her shoulders caused a startled squeal from the girl. Raimundo instantly shushing her. "Do you want to get caught?"

His tone was off. Annoyed.

"Where's Wuya?" she whispered.

"Gone."

Gently nodding her head, Kimiko squeezed her eyes shut at the dizzy spell clouding her mind.

A hand grabbed her chin, directing her face. Opening her eyes, she met his.

"If I help you, you answer my questions," Raimundo stated. "All of them."

Slowly tilting her head, she whispered her agreement, "Okay,"

Taking the Golden Tiger Claws from his pocket, he sliced open a portal next to them, carefully scooping her into his arms and stepping through.

"When was your last proper meal?"

He rummaged through the makeshift storage in the empty room. Searching for his emergency first aid kit.

He had taken her back to the abandoned base. Making the building his own over the past few months. Wuya hadn't cared, happy to have more room in her castle. She knew he'd come when called.

"You're joking right?" Kimiko grimaced.

"No,"

"Before Wuya took over,"

Bringing the kit to the main space, he looked at Kimiko resting against the end of the bed. Refusing to get on to prevent staining the sheets red.

"What have you been doing all this time?"

"We had four people to feed. That was before we found survivors," she hissed as he pulled her arm from her torso, lifting the soaked clothing. "We were bound to get unlucky at scavenging and hunting eventually,"

Examining the wound, he thanked the universe it wasn't as bad as he feared. "You need stitches,"

"Fuck,"

Smirking at her response, he gestured to the bloody shirt still on her person. "It'd be easier if it wasn't in the way,"

Using his arm for support, Kimiko leaned forward enough for him to remove the shirt.

Throwing the fabric into the corner of the room, Raimundo began working on the cut. Taking his time to clean the area before carefully making each stitch.

"This is horrible," Kimiko whimpered. Refusing to look down at herself.

"We're almost done," he reassured her.

"You said that earlier,"

"And now, we're closer to being done,"

Keeping true to his word, he needed only a few moments longer for him to finish his work, wiping the reddened area clean once again.

"Stay here," he gently ordered. Once again moving to the other room.

Returning a few moments later, offering her the t-shirt in his hands.

"Where did you…"

"I wear it at night, but I can go without," his half smile was all she needed.

Helping her with the shirt, Kimiko was soon back in his arms. She couldn't help smiling as he used his element to pull back the blankets, carefully resting her on the bed.

Covering her in the blankets, Raimundo sat at the edge of the bed, fiddling with the fabric.

"What's wrong?"

Hesitating, Raimundo kept his eyes on the material.

"Why didn't you come find me again?"

Her hand reached for his. Swapping the fabric between his fingers for her own. "I wanted to," she breathed, "But Clay – I was put on house arrest,"

"Fucking cowboy," he muttered.

"If there were sightings of you, I was practically banned from leaving the camp. He'd know if I had because he'd check in with me constantly," she hummed to herself, a small smile on her face, "Proper big brother protection,"

"So, you're not avoiding me to get with Spicer, huh?"

The look of disgust was enough of an answer for him. Chuckling at the poor girl's expense, he leaned over, kissing her cheek.

"I did miss you," she confessed, looking at his concerned eyes. "I hated not being able to find you,"

Faces so close their breath mingled, Kimiko brushed her lips against his; a soft, gentle kiss.

"You need to stay and rest, I'm going to find something for you to eat,"

"From where?" she whispered.

"They store food in the castle, there's plenty for me to go and take what I want,"

"How long will you be?" her fingers rested on his face.

"Shouldn't be long, I'm never usually bothered while there," his heart pulled at the anxiousness radiating from the young woman, never seeing this side of her before. "Rest, I promise I'll be back,"

Rummaging through the kitchen, Raimundo searched the storage for something suitable. He'd already grabbed a handful of fruit for them both, but she needed something substantial.

Wuya had already given him permission to use the small fire at his make-shift home. Keeping rock creatures free to use when she required them.

Opening the next stone cupboard, Raimundo grinned at the sight of the tins. That would work.

"Ow!" he hissed, shaking his burnt hand.

Hanging the pot over the fire had been a good idea, until he realised, he had nothing to grab it with. Glaring at the metal handle, he braced himself for his third attempt.

"What are you doing?"

Turning to the corridor, Raimundo met the tired monk watching him with interest.

"You should be resting," he answered.

Rolling her eyes, Kimiko shuffled forward. Using his shoulder as support she reached into the makeshift cooker, pulling the pot from its wire handle.

"Where do you want it?"

The adolescent pointed sheepishly to the stone counter above it. Hearing the pot hiss at its placement. "I honestly forgot you could do that,"

"I don't know if you recall, but fire is kind of my thing," she mused.

"How could I forget that?" he said as he stood, kissing her cheek before whispering in her ear, "Now go back and rest,"

"Food looks done, I can carry my bowl back,"

Relenting, Raimundo served the meals, careful to avoid burning himself on the pot. Handing Kimiko her bowl, he closely followed until she was safely in the bed.

The two sat in a comfortable silence as they ate. Raimundo regularly glancing at Kimiko's bowl, happy to see her slowly but steadily eating.

Scooping the spoon into the soup, Kimiko hesitated above the bowl. "Ask me,"

Glancing at the girl, Raimundo finished the final few scoops of his meal, resting the bowl on the floor. "Where's Omi?"

Closing her eyes, she slowly breathed. Handing the bowl to Raimundo, she let him set it with his before sitting back against the wall.

"Omi is missing – he's lost in time,"

"Time?"

"We had a plan to stop Wuya, the only problem was we needed something from Dashi to make it work. Spicer had a time machine buried away in his old house, we got it working and Omi went through," she blinked away the approaching tears. "It wasn't until after he left, we realised we couldn't get him back,"

"Something from Dashi?" Raimundo quietly repeated. "He's fifteen hundred years in the past?"

Kimiko nodded.

"How long?"

"A little before this started," she gestured between them.

Raimundo brushed a hand across his face as he sat, dumbfounded at the information. He'd been lost all this time, and nobody had suspected a thing.

"We couldn't risk Wuya discovering she had an advantage over us," Kimiko added, "And now she knows,"

"But she still doesn't know your camp," Raimundo offered, reaching for her. "Without that, she can't win,"

Looking at their hands, Kimiko meekly nodded at his words. "Come back with me," she whispered.

"What?"

"Come back with me," she asked again, eyes moving to his. "We can't keep hiding away like this, if you come back, we can fight her, we can win,"

Her hand cupped his face, thumb stroking his cheek. Eyes pleading for him to say yes.

"They wouldn't take me back," he muttered, leaning into her hand.

"Yes, we would! I would!"

Bringing her other hand to his face, Kimiko moved to his lap, his hands resting on her hips.

"Why would you want me back?" Raimundo asked.

"Because I love you!"

Raimundo blinked in surprise at her declaration; only reacting when her lips collided with his. His hands grasped her hips, pulling her close to his body.

Sensing her intent, Raimundo opened his mouth; their tongues moving in sync as he pressed her chest against his.

Mindful of her stitches, Raimundo's hands squeezed her ass, lifting them to lay her on the bed. His body hovering above hers. Her hands danced across his hair, twisting, and grabbing as she kept his face on hers, their mouths connected, their tongues feverishly exploring.

She gasped at the hand under her t-shirt, gently squeezing her breast within the sports bra. Her own fingers lightly scratching the skin on his back. Smiling into the kiss as he involuntarily pressed against her inner thigh.

Breaking away from the kiss, he pulled at the hoodie, carelessly discarding it on the floor as he returned to the woman on his bed.

Holding her cheek in one hand, he kissed up her neck, tilting her face towards him to kiss her waiting lips. He savoured the sweet taste of her skin, of her lips, her tongue. This perfect being he was lucky enough to even catch a glimpse of wanted him.

Lifting his head, his thumb rested over her lips as she attempted to pull him back. Looking at her face, Raimundo promised himself he'd memorise every detail. From the way her lips curved into a small smile to that sparkle in her eyes. He'd remember every last bit.

"Kimiko," he whispered, brushing his thumb across her lower lip. "I love you,"

Her watery eyes creased as she smiled, her cheeks flushing a shade of red.

"Believe me, I would love to continue with where were heading, but I'm worried about your stitches,"

"I understand," she whispered, "I'm feeling a little sore,"

He lifted his body higher. "Why didn't you say?"

"I was enjoying myself too much," she teased, "besides, if this is stopping, I want cuddles instead,"

Kissing the tip of her nose, he nodded at her request, "That, I can do,"

The dark room was silent, only the gentle breathing of the two monks could be heard.

Laying on his back, Raimundo's arm rested across Kimiko's chest, her head on his shoulder as she slept at an angle. The only way she could comfortably lay against him.

Senses screaming, Raimundo's eyes widen. His left hand protectively moving to Kimiko.

"Who's there," he whispered.

Slowly stepping into the room was the familiar figure. Pulling down the hood to reveal an irked Clay.

"Thought I'd find her here," he quietly commented.

"Wasn't planned," Raimundo admitted, needing to defend the woman in his arms. "She got hurt, needed help,"

"Spicer said you two showed up,"

"Coward ran back home, did he?"

"Unfortunately," Clay sighed. A dirty hand rubbing his brows. "What are your intentions with her?"

He glared at his old friend. What was between him and Kimiko was none of his concern, though he still understood his need to ask. Looking to the sleeping woman, he carefully thought over his words.

"She wants me to come back,"

Clay's eyes lingered on his sleeping friend, fighting back the tired smile that wanted to appear. "I know she does,"

"She seems to think you'd all take me back,"

"It wouldn't be easy," Clay admitted. "But if I could trust you wouldn't lead Wuya right to us, then I'd put my best foot forward,"

"Do you want me back?"

Kimiko stirred in her sleep. Soft mumbles as she turned onto her side, snuggling into Raimundo further.

Clay watched Raimundo adjust his arms, wrapping them around her body under the blanket. His cheek resting against her head.

"Wuya was a mistake," he admitted. "She took advantage of me when I was down, and I let her,"

"There's no shame in admitting to that," Clay spoke, leaning himself against the wall. "In fact, I'm glad you can admit it,"

"You never answered my question,"

He watched the cowboy's eyes explore the floor, giving him his peace as he fought his internal thoughts.

"The fact you acknowledge it was a mistake, show's me you're genuine," he breathed a heavy sigh. "I would be willing to rebuild that trust, yes,"

"Told you we'd take you back,"

The two young men looked to the source of the sleepy mumble, Raimundo grinning as he kissed her forehead.

"You're supposed to be sleeping,"

Lifting her head up to see his, heavy eyelids fought to stay open. "Tell me you're coming home, and I'll go back to sleep,"

Home. Or whatever place they'd turned into one. Could he really see himself abandoning Wuya without a word? What would happen when she realised what he'd done? Would Kimiko be safe?

He blinked away the thought. Whether he stayed or left, Kimiko was always going to be in danger. At least one of the options meant he'd be by her side, protecting her from harm.

His fingers found her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. Her hopeful eyes not once leaving his.

"I'll come home,"

AN: And that's chapter 3! I started this one right after finishing chapter 2, but it's taken until today to finally finish this one! I've got a few ideas on where this one could go next, but I know no matter which version I go, there'll always be one guaranteed thing in them. So, let's see where this one eventually goes...

Also, if you do like my writing, I am a published author! You can find my book LOOK UP by Stephi Durand on all online book retailers. The eBook is permanently priced at 0.99 too!

Happy reading!

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