Title: Feeling Better After All
Fandom: Xiaolin Showdown
Characters: Rai, Kim, Clay, Omi
Prompt: 012:Orange
Word Count: 1,749
Rating: G
Summary: The morning was great while it lasted.
Author's Note: Wow, took longer than expected. Pretty much inspired by what happened to me last week. Go to my devinantART to get the full story in my journal.

Kimiko woke up that morning like she normally did. Feeling great as the sun poured in through the window. It was as if the warmth was feeding her element that was burning within her. She could feel that today was going to be a great day.

She got up and dressed in her robes. While she was putting her hair up in her simple pig tails, she actually couldn't wait for the oncoming day of training, possibility of Shen Gong Wu as well as kicking Jack Spicer's butt. She sighed at the thought.

She walked down the corridor having that smile on her face thinking of what could Clay be possibly cooking up, what slang Omi would mess up, and most of all, Raimundo's cheerful spirit. For some odd reason, whenever she was around him she feels absolutely at home. Like no matter how upset she may be, he always found a way to cheer her up. She flushed at the thought of him roaming her mind. But for some odd reason, the flush didn't go down. But it wasn't enough to cause alarm so she shoved it to the back of her mind.

She entered the kitchen to meet the smell of eggs and pancakes and she found it welcoming. She sat down at the table beside Raimundo and in front of Omi.

"Morning, Kim," Raimundo said as he downed his milk.

"Yes, good morning, Kimiko. Are you feeling well?" Omi asked staring at her.

"Of course I am. Why would you ask?" she asked back, clearly confused. She turned her head to see Raimundo staring at her.

"You look a little pale. Well, paler than usual. Are you sure you're feeling OK?" he asked with concern.

"Positive. I'll probably cool down once we start training." As she said this, her fever rose to a few degrees but her body kept fighting it down.

"No use arguin' now. Now, how d'you like your eggs, Kimiko?" Clay asked as he looked away from the stove for a brief second.

"Sunny side up, please." Her stomach started rupturing in pain. But she still fought it down. Sweat drops were now forming at the sides of her head while her mind started spinning. The two boys at the table stared at her as if fascinated.

"Kim? Are you sure you're OK?" Raimundo asked again.

"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry." He continued to stare at her and it didn't help when her anger started to boil. She couldn't stand the thought of everyone worrying over her and thinking of her as a porcelain doll. Sometimes she would love to scream at the top of her lungs that she can take care of herself and she didn't need anybodies help.

But when Clay placed her breakfast in front of her, she couldn't take the pain anymore as she grabbed her sides and rested her head on the table top.

"Kim? Kimiko?" She felt a cool palm placed on her cheek and heard him let out a small gasp. "You're burning up," was all she heard before she blacked out.

When she opened her eyes again, she found she was in her room again. The only difference being that there was now a bucket placed beside her and a little brown teddy bear nestled in her arms. She attempted to get up but found her body refusing to move. She let out a groan as she felt unbearably hot and her stomach was still in pain. She couldn't tell if her head was pounding or that there were footsteps outside that were heading in her direction. It was confirmed when she heard a knocking sound just outside her cubicle.

"Kim? Are you awake?" she heard them say and she let out another groan. "I'm taking that as a yes." She saw her curtain open up and Raimundo entered with a tray in his hands. He knelt down and placed it beside her and she can now see it was toast along with a glass of orange juice. He looked at her and you can clearly see the concern over him. "I can see you've taken a liking to Ninja Fred." Trying to lighten the mood, she responded by letting out a moan. "It's OK, you don't have to say anything." He sat down beside her. "Master Fung called off training for today. Don't worry, we'll resume as soon as you're all better." As if reading her mind, she let out another groan at the guilt of the others not training because of her. "Y'know, you really scared us earlier." She turned her head slightly to meet him. "Saying you were fine but you were clearly sick."

"R-Rai..." she stammered in a very small hitched voice.

"I mean, I know that stubborn head of yours says to keep going but when your body starts failing..."

"Rai..."

"That's when you should start considering that maybe there's something wrong."

"Rai." Her voice now loud enough for him to catch his attention.

"Yeah?"

"Could you help me up? I feel like I'm gonna throw up." The alarm in his head went off as he helped her into a sitting position and place the bucket in between her legs. She leaned heavily on it and started coughing and the feeling of something coming up. Then, all at once, she vomited into the bucket as Raimundo pulled back her hair. By the time she finished, the bucket was already a quarter full. When he looked, he was surprised to see so much coming out of her tiny body.

Her body then leaned back to meet his chest and relaxed into it. He blushed hard as she did so but it seemed she passed out again and already took comfort in him. He would move if it weren't for the fact that he liked the feel of her against him. But then his concern kicked in again when she started shivering. He wrapped his arms around her chest and she settled for a little bit. He couldn't help but feel bad for her.

She must be feeling miserable, he thought as he stared at her sickly form. He hated to see her like this. In so much pain and there wasn't a thing he can do about it. He wish he could but the human body is a complex thing and for all he knew, this was probably a stomach flu.

He watched her as she cuddled up to his Ninja Fred as well as his arms and he took comfort that she was at ease with him. So he allowed her to use him as a human pillow. But it didn't take long for him doze after a moment of watching her sleep.

It was only a couple hours later when she opened her eyes again. Feeling warm for some odd reason, but she liked how it felt against her. She cuddled closer to it to find that it felt more like a body. That's when her eyes shot open and blushed hard when she looked down to find two strong arms wrapped lazily around her waist. She turned her head to find Raimundo's sleepy face directly next to hers. Her heart beat quickened at his closeness as her mind reeled on what might have happened that lead to this. The last thing she remembered was that he came in with toast and orange juice and the next thing she knew he helped her up, threw up in the bucket and passed out. As she recollected on this, she remembered how quick he was to help her and that he held up her hair when needed. She couldn't help but smile at this and how caring he can be.

That's Rai for you, she thought as her blush lightened but didn't disappear. She also couldn't help but notice that he looked adorable when he sleeps. She would never say it aloud because she knew he'd get defensive but that still didn't change the fact. She nestled back into his arms, drinking in the moment she has with him. This is nice, she commented in her mind. She wanted more than nothing right now is to stay like this with him.

Then she felt him stir as she turned again to face him. His eyes opened lazily and rested them on hers. His eyes shot open while jerking his head up and let on a hard blush while his hands immediately went to his sides. Surprised to see her face so close to his. She couldn't help but giggle as his heart beat at twenty miles per hour.

"S-So... How long have you been awake?" he stuttered. Feeling the words being forced out of his mouth.

"Long enough. What time is it?" He was caught off guard by her answer as his mind was completely scrambled. But he managed to sober enough to look around for her electronic clock when his eyes skimmed the red light.

"Close to four," he answered and caught her surprised face.

"Wow, we've been sleeping for a few hours." He didn't listen as he was taken aback by how relaxed she was in the position they were in.

"So... how are you feeling?" His mind going back to her illness. She thought on it and got a headache from it.

"Just have a splitting headache." He reached beside her and grabbed the abandoned glass of orange juice. He held it in front of her and she graciously took it from him.

"Might be a little warm."

"It's all right, as long as it's orange juice." She drank it, felt the citrus going down her throat and felt it taking effect. She let out a satisfying sigh as she relaxed on him. Unsure of what was happening, Raimundo sat there and stared at her while fighting down the pterodactyls that were flying around in his stomach.

"So..." he trailed off. "Maybe I should go?" Having absolutely no idea of what to do otherwise, he shifted around while placing his hands on her shoulders to gently push her away.

"Wait." He stopped what he was doing at looked down at her. "Could you stay? I feel better when you're here." She let on a hard blush and he blushed as well. But then he let on an easy smile as he settled back behind her.

"You're lucky you're sick, girl," he smirked as she relaxed back onto him. Thinking today was a good day after all.