--Chapter V--

A/N: Hi! Just wanna ask a question… Kimiko and Raimundo and all the other guys don't go to school, do they? I've never seen an episode of them going to school. Anyways, I think I'll put scenes of classrooms and stuff here. After all, I don't really think this fiction follows the Xiaolin Showdown TV show storylines, except of course, for the characters' personalities and stuff. Thanks for the reviews!

P.S. Haha! So many people hate Ben… but it's okay, I don't blame you! Haha… sorry for the wait!

Disclaimers: I don't own Xiaolin Showdown.

Raimundo heaved a great sigh, and waited for a few minutes. Then he finally gave up and looked for the "lovebirds". They were nowhere to be found. 'I thought they wouldn't go too far! Where could they be?' he thought anxiously as he was frantic and careful about Kimiko's safety. He wasn't sure of what Ben Ashmond was capable of yet, and he had better not hurt her.

"Have you seen a couple walk by? The girl has black hair and a red dress… the guy…--"

But he wasn't able to continue because most of the people in there were drunk or just didn't want to talk to him. Finally he was convinced that they weren't anywhere in the bar. 'How dare they ditch me… what was this guy possibly planning with Kimiko?' He broke into a run, looking around blindly through the pouring rain.

'When I find them… that guy is more than dead.'

"Where are you taking me?" Kimiko giggled. Ben gave her a casual smile. 'He is SO cute!' she thought, shivers rushing up her spine.

"You'll see, Kim," he reassured her, taking her hand. She looked up at him. He was like a dream come true—he was too perfect. Any girl would be happy with him. He was handsome, sweet, affectionate, and everything she wanted in a guy. He was too good to be true.

"Here we are, Kim." He took off his jacket and draped it around her, now that the rain had started to lull. "It's beautiful," she whispered, gazing at the nearly dark sky, now that a rainbow was glistening. 'Could there ever be a more romantic moment?' she thought happily. Plus, now, his arm was encircling around her.

"Not as beautiful as you." He said, and leaned over to touch her face. Kimiko couldn't breathe. Was this how love really felt like? No wonder many people fell in love. And as he leaned over to kiss her, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the passionate moment.

Kimiko woke up. 'Was it all a dream?' she asked herself.

She scrutinized her face in the mirror and touched her lips. 'It couldn't have been,' she thought to herself happily. Her phone rang urgently and she picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is that you, Kim?"

Kimiko was glad to hear Ben's voice. "Yeah. Hi Ben!"

"Hi," he said in a distracted voice.

Kimiko smiled as she remembered the kiss. "That was a really nice moment with the rainbow yesterday."

"What rainbow are you talking about?" Ben asked, still in that distracted voice.

"Well… the one we saw yesterday." Kimiko reminded him, disappointed that he didn't seem to remember.

"Oh yeah, that rainbow." He laughed. "Listen, Kim, um, can you meet me at this address in 30 minutes?" He gave it to Kimiko and she jotted it down.

"Um, sure. Why?"

"Um… it's important. I'll just meet you there… thanks so much. Bye, Kimiko."

She sighed as she plunked downthe receiver. 'I wonder what he's going to ask from me…' she thought. 'But he DID say that it was important. Oh well…' She would just have to find out.

"Where are you going, Kim?" Raimundo asked quickly as he spotted Kimiko walk casually to the front door.

"Um, nowhere," She said, hoping that he wouldn't catch her. He was still sore from yesterday when they had ditched him. Kimiko spent a full 2 hours explaining to him what had happened in small details, as she intended to leave the other details out of her story. Raimundo, to her relief, had accepted her story but warned her about Ben Ashmond.

"What do you mean, nowhere?" He leaped off the sofa and shot her an intimidating look.

'Geez! He's acting like he's my mother.' She thought to herself, rolling her eyes. "Listen, I'm just going out. What's the problem? It's no big deal. I'll take care of myself. Okay?"

Raimundo still did not look convinced. "This is the last time, Kimiko."

She sighed. Now she was going to have to lie. "I'm gonna meet my friend. What's your problem?"

It was his turn to sigh. "I'm… I'm just worried, Kim. I don't want anything… bad to happen to you."

She shrugged and grabbed the occasional black jacket she usually matched with her clothes. It was raining cats and dogs outside. There was no way she wanted to get soaked in front of Ben.

"Better take an umbrella, it's raining cats and dogs out there." Raimundo reminded her, echoing her thoughts.

"Yeah, I know. I better go… see you later, Rai." She said and slammed the front door closed behind her.

Kimiko arrived at the place Ben told her to meet him. Ben still wasn't there. She had to wait for 15 minutes until he showed up.

"Hi Ben!" Kimiko called, her eyes lighting up.

"Kimiko," Ben said restlessly. He was looking as handsome as ever under the dark blue umbrella. A gust of wind suddenly blew through the young couple and Kimiko fell into Ben's arms accidentally.

"Sorry," she said, blushing as she let go of him.

Ben stared intently into her eyes and said, "Kimiko, I have to ask you something. I really, sincerely need to borrow a few bucks." His eyes left her gaze now. Kimiko was disappointed. She thought that he was going to ask her an important question, like if he could court her or something. But it looked like her imagination was running wild.

"Um, how much?" she asked. What could he be needing her money for?

"Around… 20 dollars?" He fidgeted with his jacket zipper, afraid that Kimiko would not say yes to his request. "I know this is pretty inconsiderate of me, 'cause I'm a guy," he said hurriedly. "But I need it for something… important. I promise, I'll pay you back, Kim."

She smiled, letting go of any doubts of him. It was just probably a one-time thing, anyway. "Okay." She smiled and pulled a twenty-dollar bill out of her pocket. Ben's frown turned into a grateful smile, and said, "You're the best, Kim."

But before she was able to speak, he silenced her. "Listen, Kim… I was just wondering… can I court you?"

Once the young teenager reached Master Fung's house, she was overcome with happiness and excitement. She kept reliving that happy, heart-stopping moment when she answered yes to his question, and they both kissed under the rain. It was all so romantic.

'Maybe I was destined to be with Ben ever since, and I just didn't know it,' she thought ecstatically as Omi opened the door to her.

"Kimiko! You are soaking wet." Omi said as she stepped in the house.

"I'm sorry, Omi, it was really raining outside." She replied.

"Better yet, Kimiko, you shouldn't go out in the rain as much as possible." Raimundo interrupted, coming towards his friends.

"Or even better yet, Raimundo," Kimiko retorted, "You shouldn't stick your nose into others' business whether they go out or not, because it's their choice." She sniffed. "And it happens to be my choice."

"Suit yourself," Raimundo shrugged and grabbed a glass of hot cocoa.

Kimiko rolled her eyes. Why did her best friend have to be like this? Sometimes she was just grateful to have him as her friend, but sometimes he was just a headache.

'I have to face it,' she thought as she marched up the stairs to her room. 'Raimundo is just prejudiced when I like other guys. Don't tell me he likes me more than he has to. 'Cause that would be a disaster.'

Kimiko had another dream about Ben Ashmond, and needless to say that it was a pleasant dream. She had somehow managed to shove the fact that Ben had asked her for money yesterday. She woke up with a cheerful attitude.

Raimundo was suspicious when she came down to join them for breakfast. "Why are you suddenly so happy this morning while the rest of us are cranky?" he asked suspiciously.

"I don't know. Maybe you got out of the wrong side of bed." Kimiko joked lightly.

"By the way, are you still hanging around "You-know-who"?" Raimundo asked.

Kimiko's face flushed. "It's none of your business, really. Just because you're really prejudiced against him doesn't mean you can influence me to turn against him."

It was Raimundo's turn to go red. "I am not prejudiced," he declared. "There's just… something about him that makes me want to cringe." He grimaced. "And besides, I'm not supposed to like all your friends." He added.

No reply enunciated from Kimiko as she ate her pancakes silently.

A little later she phoned Sal and Jan to help her shop for her dress to the dance that Ben was inviting her to.

A/N: Chapter V done, Chapter VI coming up! Hope you like it… and please review.