Title: Fear Of Enclosed Space
Fandom: Xiaolin Showdown
Characters: Rai, Kim, Clay, Omi, Dojo
Prompt: 026:Teammates
Word Count: 1,782
Rating: G
Summary: Le Mime's magic traps Rai and Kim. Easy way out? Think again.
Author's Note: I was watching 'Like A Rock' and I couldn't help but think of this possibility. Also, I didn't know that this one would turn out to be this complex... I thought it was gonna be short, not 3 pages long. Anyhow, hope you like. :D

None were closer than them. When it came to combining their elements, none were powerful. But what they have in common were their stubborn minds. When those two combine, that's when hell freezes over. And that's precisely what happened during a Xiaolin Showdown between them and Jack Spicer and Le Mime. The game was tag. Last person left wins and, unfortunately, they were roused into a trap set by Le Mime. In a box. Making it easier for Jack to tag them. When the settings went back to normal, Jack and Le Mime ran off with the Wu and was running towards a newly active Wu. Using the Fire Dragon's PDA, Raimundo sent a message to the others to go after them and not to worry about the two trapped individuals. They went off as they were told by their leader. Leaving them. Alone.

"All right, this shouldn't be too hard. It's basically like last time we got trapped in here," Kimiko noted.

"Yeah, like we haven't learned the last time," Raimundo retorted and immediately shut his eyes and started to imagine a door standing before him. He reached out and felt the knob in his own hand. But when he turned it, he found it to be locked. He opened his eyes and tried turning it again.

"What the- It's locked," he said, astonished. Kimiko pushed him aside and felt for the door handle.

"Honestly, the only way to get something done is by..." as she turned the knob and it still wouldn't budged. "You're right. It is locked. I don't get it, the last time we did this, we were able to get out."

"Well, it could only mean two things. It's either the mime got more powerful or he got a little smarter." She groaned.

"And neither one is good." He let out a sigh.

"And I thought he was annoying before..." She leaned against the wall and slid down to a sitting position.

"I just hope that Omi and Clay come back soon." He too leaned against the wall but placed his foot against it as well.

"Probably. They're not stupid to leave without us."

Meanwhile, in the sky. Clay and Omi sat on Dojo's back as they fly back to the temple.

"Are you sure that Rai and Kimiko will meet us at the temple, Dojo?" Clay asked.

"Positive, we're talking mime magic here. Not the brightest magic in the world. I'm sure they're sipping tea by the time we get back," Dojo responded.

"For our sake, I hope Kimiko and Raimundo are, as you say, checking out of the shelter."

"I think you mean checking in to the hotel, little partner. Or in this case, the temple."

Back at the box, Kimiko and Raimundo are still locked away. They tried imagining a door frame but with a solid wall, it can't be done. Then they tried opening a window but it was still no use. The only thing they could do was sit and wait. In unbearable silence. With minds as stubborn as their's, they can't stand the silence. They opened their mouths and said each other's names at the same time.

"You go first," he offered.

"I was going to ask, what if Clay and Omi don't come back?" His eyes widened.

"You're talking crazy, girl."

"I'm serious, Rai. What if they don't come back?" He gave her an intent stare.

"Well, the last time I checked, they need four dragons. Not two." She glared at him.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" He still stared at her, only flabbergasted.

"What? You know that I don't think that."

"Then why did you sound so accusing?" He banged the back of his head against the wall.

"It was only your imagination." As soon as he said it, he felt a push against his back and it completely got him off guard so he fell down onto Kimiko. His head on her chest and palms at her sides. He lifted his head and saw that he was incredibly close to her face. A tiny hint of blush surfaced on his cheeks. She didn't look too comfortable either.

"Uh, Rai? What are you doing?" He shook his head and was immediately back to reality.

"Uh, I dunno. Something pushed me," he stammered. She cocked an eyebrow.

"Rai, nothing pushed you." He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Now you're calling me stupid?" he retorted as he got up and when he turned around, he was met with the wall. He felt around frantically. She looked at him with intent confusion.

"What are you doing?"

"The wall, it closed in." She squinted her eyes as to try to comprehend.

"What?"

"You heard me." Out of curiosity, he reached the top of the box and felt it was practically touching his head. That was when he started to panic. "Oh no. This is not good," he muttered.

"Rai?" He turned around and saw her irritable face change to concern. "Are you OK?"

"Uh... Fine." His cheek met the wall again. He stumbled back a little and his nerves tightened even more. Not knowing what's going on, she lifted her hand and felt for the side and felt that it was closer than it originally did. Then she looked up at him and saw fear cover his face.

"Rai? Are you sure you're OK?"

"U-Uh... Yeah. P-Peachy even." The sides closed even more and that was when he got down into a fetal position. She furrowed her eyebrows as she got close to him.

"Rai, you're not fine. You're not even close to peachy. Tell me, what's going on?" She reached her hand to his cheek and brought his face up to her. She had never seen him with this much fear etched into him before. She thought he was scared when a jellyfish rears its ugly head, but after finding out that it represents his true fear of never being good enough and once that fear was finally conquered, the jellyfish was never seen again. He looked at her and then felt shame overcoming him. He looked away from her.

"You wouldn't understand."

"Then make me." He glanced at her and then stared at a blade of grass.

"Well, I never really told you guys, but I'm... a little..." he mumbled something else and she didn't catch what he said.

"Sorry?" He gritted his teeth. He really didn't want to say it again. "Rai-"

"OK! I'm claustrophobic! Happy now?!" She stared at him wide eyed. She really had no idea on what to say.

"Rai, I... I didn't know. I mean, you never really mentioned anything about-"

"Of course. Nobody suspects the Dragon of the Wind, especially when he spends his time in the open skies," he snapped. She looked at him and semi-understood the situation. So she got into thinking and came up with a logical conclusion on why the walls have been closing in.

"So, you lied." He snapped his head in her direction.

"Of course I lied."

"Uh huh. Why would you lie, Rai?" He gave her an accusing look.

"What kind of question is that? You know why I lied."

"I can only think you're either ashamed or afraid. Which is it?" He calmed down a bit.

"Both, I guess."

"And did you also lie when I asked if you think I'm stupid?"

"No! I didn't lie about that. I guess I was irritated about the situation." He let out a sigh. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" He turned to her.

"You know what. Why are you playing twenty questions with me?" She looked at him as his green eyes boar on to her.

"I was trying to get your mind off the box. Why? Did it work?" He considered it and just merely shrugged.

"A little, yeah." That was when she got up and stuck out her hand. "Kim? What are you-" She started walking towards the wall. He noticed that she didn't bang into it yet and for that, he raised an eyebrow. "Kim? What's going on?" When she finally met the wall, she turned to him.

"Don't you get it, Rai? Every time one of us lies, the box gets smaller." He let out a frustrated groan and pounded his fist to the wall behind him.

"I hate that mime," he grunted.

"At least that was honest. So, you're not feeling claustrophobic anymore?" Seeing her distance did ease his nerves a bit more, so he got up and found that he didn't bang his head.

"Uh... No, as matter of fact." Then he leaned against the wall in his usual relaxed pose. "Listen, Kim... Thanks." She sent him a smile.

"It's no problem." He too let on a smile.

"Y'know, one of these days I gotta pay you back."

"Pay?"

"Yeah. For being nice when I need it." She just shrugged.

"I'm doing what I can."

"Don't stop doing it." She stared at him and saw that he blushed a little.

Then a shadow cast over them and they looked up to see Dojo's underside descending to the ground. He landed near them and shrunk to three feet as Omi and Clay got off him and raced over to them. Raimundo pointed to the invisible door's knob. Omi knowing what he meant, he reached up and tried turning the knob but was locked on the outside anyway. Clay tried it as well and felt that the button on the knob was pushed in. He unclicked it and the door swung open. Raimundo jumped right out and embraced the open air. Kimiko followed him out with no problem. That is, until the two turned to Omi and Clay with angry faces. Uneasiness shown on them as well as Dojo.

"We're sorry, par'ners," Clay said.

"Yes, we are most sorry. It appears that a certain dragon kept assuring us that you were already at the temple," Omi said while glaring at Dojo.

"I swear, that's the last time I underestimate mime magic," Dojo said in his defense. Raimundo let out a groan.

"Whatever, lets just go back before anything else sets me off," he said as he boarded on the now forty foot Dojo. Kimiko followed in pursuit and then Omi and Clay. As they were flying, Raimundo turned to Kimiko and leaned in so that only she can hear him.

"Hey Kim? Do you mind not telling anyone about my... you-know-what?" he asked. She placed her hand reassuringly on his shoulder and gave a squeeze.

"Don't worry," she whispered. He let on a smile as he grasped her hand. Before they knew it, they were all ready back to the temple.