--Chapter VI--

Disclaimers: I don't own Xiaolin Showdown.

A/N: Hey, bet you're all mad at me because of this TOTALLY late update. Okay, so I have been REALLY busy at school. My school opens in June, and ends in March… so I really won't be able to update much for the next few months, only on weekends when I'm not busy. So you see, I don't really have the time. But I promise that when school ends again, I'll be updating frequently. So, once again, my apologies and I hope you'll continue reading the fic.

Ben Ashmond focused his emerald green eyes on his date for the evening. She had long, slim legs, a fantastic body and long golden blond hair to crown her scalp. But for Ben, the best features of the girl were her eyes, the color of sky blue.

"Hold me close, Ben…" She whispered. Ben held out an arm for her and twirled her around. There was nothing like spending the night with a beautiful date.

When they finished dancing, they headed out to the restaurant's balcony. "Lucy… listen… can you do something for me?"

"Of course, honey." Lucy leaned on the rail, looking intently at the city below them.

"Can we keep our relationship a secret? I mean, don't tell anyone at all. Okay?"

"Of course!" Lucy embraced him. "I love you, Ben."

"I love you too, Lucy. But I need to take you home, I'm really sleepy…" Ben yawned, and Lucy nodded in concern.

"Okay, let's go to my apartment first. You can spend the night there." She said coyly, touching his brown hair gently with her fingertips.

"Okay. Let's see." In 15 minutes, they arrived at Lucy's apartment.

"I have to go now." Ben announced, looking at his watch with urgency.

"I see. Then go, Ben, dear. I'll talk to you tomorrow." She told her boyfriend as Ben slammed the door shut behind him.

Later that night…

A bright pink cell phone lay on the table, seemingly lifeless. But at that moment, it had sprung to life, blinking with a yellow radiance and vibrating upon the surface of the wooden table, waking the female teenager who was sleeping nearby.

She yawned and picked it up without looking at the caller, saying, "Hello…"

"Kimiko! Thank goodness you're still awake. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to call you tonight."

"Ben! Well, I was just about sleeping… What time is it?"

"It's already 11:00 P.M. You really sleep early, you know."

"Yeah. I should. Sometimes we have to rush. So why did you call?"

"Well…" he paused. "I just wanted to check if you're alright. And I want to ask if you're also ready to come with me to the dance."

"Of course, Ben… I already asked Sal and Jan to help me pick out the dress. You'll see! It's really beautiful."

"Okay. Good night! Sorry for disturbing your sleep."

"Good night… See you." She hung up and placed her phone back on the table, satisfied to have heard Ben's voice before she sank back into her deep slumber.

The night of the dance…

"Hey, that is not fair! How can that infidel of a horse-man move in that way?" Omi asked quizzically, glancing at his fellow Xiaolin companions to see if they knew why.

"'Cause, little buddy, this piece is called the knight. In chess, it moves like the letter "L". That's how it captures pieces." Raimundo explained carefully to the curious monk. Omi smiled toothily and nodded.

"So this knight—as you call it—moves like this?" Omi moved the miniature piece 3 spaces forward, and 1 space to the left, just as his opponent had done.

"You got it." Raimundo answered, and turned back to his portable laptop. From time to time that evening, Omi had been asking him for tips in chess. Clay was opposing Omi in his first game.

"By the way, where IS Kimiko? She's been missing the whole evening." Omi asked.

"I think she's upstairs." The Brazilian teen answered briskly. He went back to his chat room.

Leodude99 signed in.

Leodude99: Hey Raimundo! What's up, dude?

Rai13210: Nothing special. But I'm okay. What about you?

Leodude99: Hey, this is me you're talking about. Of course I'm okay.

Rai13210: Yeah, right.

Leodude99: Hah! You'll see. I'm no pathetic mortal. I RULE SUPREME!

Rai13210: Chill out. What do you want to tell me?

Leodude99: Has your brain gone cracked, dude?

Rai13210: No. It's just that when you're acting like a tough guy, it means that you found a girl you're interested in. So tell me, who is it?

Leodude99: Fine, fine. You got me. I'll start a conference, and I'll introduce her to you.

Rai13210: Okay.

Leodude99 has invited you to a conference.

Rai13210 has accepted the invitation.

Spunkierbytheminute has accepted the invitation.

Leodude99: Raimundo, this is Mandy. I met her at a party. And Mandy, this is Raimundo. He's been my good friend ever since we hit school.

Rai13210: Hi, Mandy. How are you?

Spunkierbytheminute: Oh, I'm fine. Leo, I thought you were going to pick me up tonight!

Leodude99: No, there's no date tonight, right?

Spunkierbytheminute: Don't tell me you FORGOT?

Rai13210: Um, sorry to butt in, but what are you talking about?

Leodude99: Oh! The dance!

Spunkierbytheminute: Oh, so, NOW he remembers. Sweetie, you promised me last week!

Leodude99: I'm sorry, Mandy. I'll pick you up right now. Hey, Rai, why don't you tag along? It's gonna be one night to remember.

Rai13210: Sure, if I'm not bothering you.

Leodude99: You rock, dude! See ya there. Better get dressed—it's a formal party, at the Starlight Hotel.

Rai13210: Got it. See you...

Rai13210 signed out.

Leodude99 signed out.

Spunkierbytheminute signed out.

Kimiko felt the breeze whip her hair as she sat beside her date. The window was wide open, and without any traffic, it was quite easy to travel along the streets. She smiled as she remembered how she sneaked out of the temple that night. It was not so easy, having had to pass Omi and Clay. Raimundo wasn't there, surprisingly. Omi had said that he was busy.

But nevertheless she met Ben and now they were heading to the Starlight Hotel.

"Oh, look, here were are." Ben said easily as he parked the car. He took Kimiko's arm and led her in the hotel lobby. It seemed like hundreds of students were in there, about Ben and Kimiko's age.

"Ben! You promised me the first dance, remember?" a whiny girl ran up to him and he flushed almost immediately. "Um. Yeah. By the way, Amy, this is Kimiko. Kim, this is my classmate, Amy."

"Oh, um, nice to meet you." Kimiko held out her hand politely and Amy didn't take it. "Who is she, Ben? A new girlfriend of yours?"

"Um…" Ben was turning red now, and he wouldn't meet Kimiko's eyes.

"Oh my gosh, did you see that? Leo Farrell and Mandy Wheeler? Are they actually going out?" Amy continued in her whiny voice, changing the topic fortunately for Ben. She marched towards the couple she was pointing at, and behind them was…

"Raimundo? What is he doing here?" Kimiko yelped. She practically dove out of sight.

Raimundo walked casually around, following Leo and Mandy, whom he just met a few minutes ago.

"Nice hotel," he commented. "Why aren't they going up yet?" he asked Leo.

"Dude, we'll all be going up in a few minutes. We came a bit early, that's all," he replied, straightening his tuxedo. Raimundo smirked. He and Leo were definitely not used to wearing tuxes. Mandy, who had blond hair and immensely heavy makeup, ended up looking 2 years older than she actually was. But she looked glamorous all the same, and Raimundo could see why Leo chose her.

A few minutes later, a short girl with fiery red hair and striking eyes came up to Leo and Mandy, demanding something. Raimundo moved closer to his friends to hear what she was saying. "You two are going out?" she asked in a pretty much annoying voice. It had a bossy quality to it, and Raimundo sensed that he would not like to get to know this girl.

"Yeah, we are," Leo answered for both him and Mandy. "Is that so wrong?"

The girl gave the both of them a cold, hard look. "Who are you?" she demanded from Raimundo, whom she just noticed at that exact moment.

Raimundo cocked an eyebrow at Leo, and answered, "I'm their friend. Lay off them, will you. It's not as if they're breaking a law." He said sarcastically.

"Whatever." She crossed her arms. "I'm Amy. See you around." She said, apparently wanting to get away, and when Raimundo didn't reply, she walked away huffily.

"Wow, nice manners she's got," Raimundo muttered.

"Oh, yeah. Amy Henderson acts like she's the boss 'cause her dad is an important director of our school." Leo rolled his eyes. "Don't mind her."

Raimundo nodded, and a waiter announced that they were finally allowed to head up the elevator.

A/N: Next chapter coming up…