Title: Drenched in Red
Fandom: Xiaolin Showdown
Characters: Rai, Kim
Prompt: 011:Red
Word Count: 646
Rating: PG-13
Summary: He was drenched and coated with blood, so what's the damage this time?
Author's Note: I was looking through my writing file and found this lying around and I remembered the night I wrote this. Very late and I just put down was going through my head. Then when I was so tired that I could fall asleep on my laptop, I closed this up and haven't touched it since. Now when I'm getting back into '100 Moments', I reread this and I thought 'Geez, what was I dreaming up before typing?' Then I debated whether I should leave it, or continue it. And I did (considering there were questions that needed to be answered) and I'm happy with the outcome. Hope you guys like it as well. :D

In China, red means good luck. The main décor color for most weddings and for the Chinese New Year. Red banners displayed with the word happiness and red firecrackers. A very big celebration where on every corner is nothing but red. All is good with the color and nothing bad could be thought of.

But everywhere else, red is the symbol for a warning or a sign of danger. But the most commonly association with the color is blood. The thickness of it could make a squeamish person laugh with an uncomfortable feeling or vomit. But depending on your line of work, it was nothing new. Sure you can't live without it, but feeling the texture running in between your fingers could send chills running up and down your spine. Bringing horror stricken faces, despite what kind of person you are.

He didn't really think of that. Nor did he care as he stumbled into the temple. Covered head to toe in blood. Some his own, some not. Limping from a broken leg and his arm with a deep gash that rendered it useless. He didn't pay attention to panicked faces surrounding him. Telling him to take it easy and guiding him to the hospital wing.

Worst of all, he knew who was guiding him as her soft, delicate hands stroked his chest. Her scent of lavender mixing with the scent of blood coursed through his nostrils. And her voice, filled with both concern and anger. He even heard her calling him an idiot with an additional mumbled curse.

He couldn't stand her being this concerned over his well being. Even when he was the one that tried to save her. Only she didn't know about it. He knew that. With a threat hanging over her and he wouldn't stand for it. So, he thought, why not face the threat head on?

A gruesome battle was all he could think about. It was the final showdown between him and Chase Young. Once again, he tried to use the Dragon of the Wind's affection for her to try to weaken him. No. More than weaken. Destroy him. But he wouldn't have it. There was no way he was going to let that mutant lizard go anywhere near her and touch a hair on her head.

Chase set the challenge. No Shen Gong Wu, no Wudai Weapon, and no wind to aid him. And in return, no magic, no changing into a dragon (at all), and no super strength. Just hand to hand combat. Winner leaves with their head intact. Meaning last man standing wins. You could obviously say who won.

She didn't ask what had happened, she was only concerned with getting him cleaned up and treated. Those soft hands holding a cold wet cloth, practically dousing him. He cringed and screamed in pain. It hurt her so much that he was this much in pain, but she let it slip that it was his own fault. He kept silent, save for the yells.

He wasn't going to tell her, and he didn't think she'd want to know. But even if she asked, he won't. Not only was he afraid to hear her reaction, but to savor that face from the horrendous details. In a cave where spikes were coming down from both the ground and the ceiling, two healthy and built men, and no magic to assist. I don't need to go into further detail, only because so much happened that it's hard to keep the facts straight.

The point being, he risked everything. His love and friendship with the girl came out strong in the end. A thing that not even Chase Young foreseen. And the only thing that the wind dragon cared at the very moment she started bandaging him was that he could live to see her pristine blue eyes for another day.