--Chapter VII--

Disclaimers: I don't own Xiaolin Showdown.

One by one, the couples and people waiting in the hotel lobby were escorted up in the fancy elevator. While waiting for their turn, Raimundo, Leo and Mandy started a conversation.

"So… do you guys know anyone called Ben Almond? I mean… Ashmond." Raimundo asked.

"Know him? Sure I know him. He's in my class, that dude. Has a new girl every single week. Popular guy. Not a jock, though. I don't know what made him popular, but almost everyone knows him. Maybe that's because he broke so many hearts." Leo scoffed, showing his extreme dislike.

Mandy waited for Leo to finish before she said her part. "I know him. We dated for about 2 weeks last year, then I discovered that he had another girlfriend, and we broke up." She said coldly at the memory.

Raimundo wasn't expecting these kinds of replies from his friends, but they did confirm his worst fears for Kimiko. Like any best friend, he was totally concerned for Kimiko.

Without any warning, Amy Henderson walked by him and smiled, unlike her grouchy self a while ago.

"Hi! You're the one I met just a while ago, with Leo and Mandy," she smiled flirtingly.

"Hello." Raimundo said in an icy tone. "Are you here to annoy me this time?"

Amy felt struck by the question. "No, I'm not." She said as if it was the last thing she would have done. "I just wanted to say… hello. That's all." She sniffed. "Do you know my father, Frederick Henderson? He's the director of this school."

"Sorry, but I don't go to this school." He answered briskly.

Amy sniffed, her airs injured. Nevertheless, she continued to bother Raimundo. "So what school do you go to?"

"None of your business. I'm just here with my friends, like I told you."

"Fine, if you don't want to talk to me. As if I care." She turned up her nose at him, determined not to talk to him again. Raimundo was grateful to see her gone.

As soon as the students were all seated in the spacious room reserved for their dance, Raimundo started searching the crowd for Kimiko. 'She must be in here someplace… with Ashmond, no doubt…' he thought.

Then he spotted Ben walking casually beside two girls, possibly from his school. Kimiko wasn't one of them. Perhaps she was somewhere else.

But then a reckless idea came to Raimundo. What if he confronted Ben face to face, right here, right now? It would probably put an end to their relationship. Then he wouldn't have to worry about Kimiko going out with him anymore.

A small voice in his brain spoke at that very moment, cautioning him. 'No, Raimundo, you will not like what would happen after this… Kimiko will never speak to you again! Do you want that?'

But before he could reply to this, another voice spoke in gruff tones. 'You're doing the right thing. You just need to get that Ashmond off your back once and for all! Then you won't have to worry about a thing. It's easy enough, right?'

'He'd just regret it!'

'No he won't!'

Ben was coming closer… and now was the time to decide.

"What are you planning with Kimiko?"

The two girls shrunk away at his voice. But Ben's expression remained unchanged. "Raimundo. We meet again… And I'm not planning anything with her, don't worry." He said, looking at Raimundo directly in the eye. "Excuse me ladies, I think we need a little privacy." And with that, he stalked away to the dark part of the room. Raimundo followed him.

"I don't trust you, Ashmond. You better tell me right now or you'll regret it."

"I already told you, I'm not planning anything with her. Is it a crime to make a girl fall in love with you?" he sneered, his face turning ghastly. "Tell you what, Raimundo. Let's strike a deal. We will both do anything in our power to win her heart. And once that happens… the one who loses will never bother Kimiko again." Ben paused for a dramatic effect. "And the loser gets out of town. Deal?" Ben held out his hand.

Raimundo hesitated. This seemed almost impossible to win, but he had to try. He had to try his best, for goodness' sake. He couldn't lose Kimiko to another guy without a fight. "Deal." He gripped Ben's hand for a short while.

Ben smiled contentedly and smirked. It was the foulest smirk that Raimundo had ever seen in his life. Though it didn't mean defeat. There was still hope. "See you around, Raimundo." Ben called, and headed back to the party.

"What's troubling you, dude? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"Nothing, I'm alright. Thanks Leo." Raimundo answered. He was still thinking about the challenge now facing him.

"Alright, then. Mandy wants to dance… see you later." Leo left his champagne glass on the table and followed his date, leaving Raimundo to his thoughts.

"Hi, Raimundo."

It was Kimiko, looking quite radiant and elegant in her new clothes. With a little smile, she sat beside him.

"Hi, Kim. I'm sorry if I've been so spaced out this week." He muttered.

"That's okay. I just came by to say hello. You look a little lonely here." She commented. She took a sip from her glass.

Raimundo managed a small smile. "Ben's not with you?" he asked.

"Well, no, he was asked to dance by one of his classmates." She gestured to where her date was, dancing happily with his arms wrapped around a skinny girl. Raimundo shot a glare in his direction.

"Okay then. So what do you want to do?"

"Talk to you, I guess. It's been a really long time since we had time to chat. I've been spending a lot of time with Ben, but not with my best friend."

Touched by this speech, Raimundo felt that he had a sparkle of hope remaining. 'Come on, you big loser, tell her what you feel!' the voice shouted in his brain. But he decided against it. Now wasn't the time. "Okay then… do you want to dance?" he asked, a little cheerfully.

Kimiko smiled. "I'd love to."

Kimiko never remembered a time where she felt more special. Sure, she was dancing with her best friend—but for once, she felt happy and so cheerful around him. He laughed and joked around with her like the old times, before she met Ben.

But there was that shining barrier between them—the barrier of friendship. One they must never cross over. Friendship was fun while it lasted, but relationship was quite a different thing. For one, it was commitment, time, energy, love and trust all at the same time. Friendship was much less complicated. All you needed was for them to be by your side.

Kimiko realized all of this as she was dancing with Raimundo. And it was a dance that she would never forget.

"That was my foot, Kim." Raimundo said, trying to keep a look of pain off his face. But he smiled all the same.

"I'm so sorry, Rai! I'm not sure if I remember how to dance anymore."

"Well, if that's the case… I guess I'll have to teach you." He said, his eyes twinkling.

'Raimundo has wonderful eyes,' she thought. 'Why haven't I noticed it before?'

'Probably because you never really looked,' her mind answered. And she realized that it was right. She never really took notice of Raimundo, especially in looks. Maybe there was a lot more about him that she didn't know. Now was the time to discover it.

Thankfully she didn't trip over him again. "See, you know how to dance." Raimundo whispered in her ear. She giggled, flattered at his compliment. When the song ended, she felt disappointed. But she tried not to show it. "That was fun," she said. "Hope we try that out again sometime." She managed a smile.

"Hopefully by then you won't step on my foot." He joked sarcastically, and they both laughed.

"Kim! It's time to go." Ben called, looking impatient.

"I've got to go. Meet you back at the Xiaolin Temple." She didn't know what made her do it, but she kissed him hastily on the cheek. She didn't notice that Raimundo had turned quite red.

"See you," he said, the words still hanging from his mouth as Kimiko left him. The spot where Kimiko had kissed him was still burning brightly.

A/N: I guess that's it for Chapter 7, hope I can update more frequently next time… :) Please review!