Title: Autumn's Realization
Fandom: Xiaolin Showdown
Characters: Rai, Kim, Omi, Clay
Prompt: 064:Fall
Word Count: 1015
Rating: G
Summary: Raimundo boasts as usual and Kimiko asks why.
Author's Note: And yet another vague one. Good timing too. :D

The leaves went from a healthy green to a vibrant orange. Or perhaps a burnt brown. Or maybe a bright yellow. But no matter what color they were, they always seem to pick themselves off by the wind and gently meet the ground. But when it comes in huge amounts, they need to be collected. And who would be doing such a chore? But of course, the four Xiaolin monks.

With rakes in their hands, they raked the dying leaves into giant piles. Each working on their own. Either being bored, eccentric, or don't mind at all. But then the bored one started thinking and came up with an idea to liven things up a bit.

"Hey Omi! I dropped a piece of candy at the bottom of this pile! I'll race you to it!" he shouted to the Dragon of Water and, as expected, the little monk raced over to his pile and jumped into the heavy load. Leaves spread across the lawn. The others walked over to them and see Omi digging to the very bottom.

"Omi, get out of there, there are bugs in there," Kimiko said in a sisterly manner.

"Not until I discover the piece of candy that Raimundo so foolishly dropped," Omi replied.

"I think he was pullin' yer leg there, par'ner," Clay said. Omi's head shot up and looked at Raimundo with a scowl.

"Hey you should know by now not to listen to me," he said in a as a matter of fact like manner.

Then Clay went over to Omi and lead him into the meditation hall. As soon as they were out of sight, Kimiko hit Rai's arm.

"Ow, what was that for?" he asked.

"Because of you, we have more leaves to rake," she scorned pointing out to the leaves that were scattered all over the lawn.

"Relax, I got it under control."

"Oh yeah, how?"

He looked around the courtyard to see if Master Fung was anywhere near, since he wasn't, Raimundo positioned himself.

"Wudai Star, Wind!" he summoned his element and controlled the wind to collect the leaves into the once dessicated pile. Kimiko looked at the pile with wide eyes. "Pretty impressed, huh?"

She looked over at him and saw his cocky smile.

"Why do you do that?" she asked. He was taken aback and his eyes widened.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you always do these amazing stunts and when you look over at me, you have this stupid smile. Why do you do that?"

He looked down at the ground, trying hard not to meet her eyes.

"Y'know, for a girl that notices things, you sure are blind," he said as he left the courtyard and entered the way into his own room.

She stood there stunned. Trying to personify into what he had meant. Then Clay came back out again and went up to the Dragon of Fire.

"I see that you guys cleaned up pretty fast. Where's Raimundo?" he asked.

"He went off," she said with uncertainty.

"What's wrong?" Kimiko turned to him.

"He... He called me blind."

"What do you mean by 'blind'?"

"I don't know. I asked him why he was always trying to be a big shot all the time, and he said I notice things and yet I'm blind. What does he mean by that?"

"Well, don't you think about why he was doing all that around you?"

"Why should I? You know as well as I do that he can be arrogant."

"Well yeah, but didn't you ever consider that maybe he likes you?"

Kimiko's head shot up. Is what he's saying true? Does Raimundo like Kimiko more than just friends? To that thought, she put a smile on her face.

"Thanks, Clay," she said as she went off in the same direction as Rai.

"Sure thing, whatever I said."

Meanwhile, Raimundo was fidgeting with his soccer ball in between his hands while sitting on his bed. Why couldn't he just tell her? It shouldn't be that hard, and yet it was. At least he dropped a little hint, but he knew she wouldn't get it right away. He dropped his soccer ball and kicked it at the wall.

"Practicing your kicks before losing?" Raimundo turned his head and saw Kimiko's smiling face peeking through the door frame.

"What're you doing here?" he asked flatly.

"I just want to talk," she said as she stepped further into his room.

"There's nothing to talk about." He looked down avoiding her.

"I think there is." She sat down beside him. "Rai, why didn't you tell me?"

Frustration overtook him as he got up and started pacing.

"What, that I liked you ever since we came to the temple? Or that you occupied my head when I went over to the Heylin side? Or maybe I go crazy knowing that you're not OK? I don't just like you, Kim, I'm insanely in love with you!" he shouted and crossed his arms. "There, now you know."

She looked down and tried to avoid his green eyes that were piercing into her skin. Then he let out a sigh and knelt down before her.

"I'm sorry, Kim. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."

"No, you should have. All this time, you were trying to impress me and... and I didn't even bother to take into consideration." She closed her eyes as to try to not look at his expression onto her shameful demeanor. He then lifted up his hand and placed his forefinger underneath her chin and brought it up to face him.

"Kimi, open your eyes," he said soothingly. She did open them and saw his soft feature traced. "At first, I was angry that you didn't get it, but now that you do, well, lets just say my insides are doing a trapeze act."

She smiled at him. He smiled back. He drew her close to him and placed his lips over hers. She didn't push him back but welcomed it and brought him close. As the leaves continued to fall outside.