--Chapter VIII--

A/N: I do nothing but apologize these days… apologize for something I've said, or said I would do, but didn't. Well, I'm sorry I really have to apologize for not updating AT ALL. Seriously! How long has it been since I last logged in to Oh well… guess I'd better start with all of my stories… Including this one.

"Kimiko! Phone!"

"Wait a sec! Just getting changed." Kimiko shouted back.

When she was done, she took the phone from an overexcited Omi, who was eagerly bringing his chess set around with him. Raimundo and Clay were going to teach him again.

Raimundo watched Kimiko from the corner of his eye. He had no intentions of snooping, however he already knew that it was Ashmond. Probably snaking around, that guy, asking Kimiko out for a date.

"Okay. I'll be right there." Kimiko beamed and put the phone down. Raimundo stood up. Now was the time to strike.

"So where are you going, Kimiko?" he asked nonchalantly, pretending that he didn't hear a thing of her conversation with Ashmond.

"Rai. Grow up. I'm not a baby that you have a look out for, you know. I'm pretty much accustomed to taking care of myself." Kimiko answered sarcastically. Her expression changed to a playful one.

Kimiko was making an effort to be extra nice to him these days. He wondered why. Maybe she had realized that he had feelings, too?

"Just joking. I'm going out with Ben." Kimiko said. After applying a bit of pink blush and dabbing on some lip gloss, she was ready to go.

"Hey, Kim, just promise me you'll take care of yourself." Raimundo said suddenly.

"Ben's a great guy. He'll make sure of that, don't worry."

"I know, but just be on the look out. Okay? I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

Raimundo was sounding like a broken record, honestly. Kimiko shrugged. "No big deal, I can take care of myself." She bent down and brushed her lips gently against Raimundo's cheek. He turned red again, like she had hadn't done that before. "See you later." She said casually, and walked out of the door.

Later on, Omi and Clay were in the other room with Master Fung, who was teaching the both of them how to play Chinese chess. Raimundo saw this as an opportunity to surprise Kimiko when she got home. What was better than giving her something when she didn't expect it? It was the perfect idea. He couldn't stop her from going on dates with Ashmond, but the least he could do was to do something for her.

He supposed that girls liked those stuff. The surprises, gifts, candy, chocolate that boyfriends usually gave their girlfriends on days like Valentine's. Perhaps Kimiko would appreciate them too.

He stopped for a moment before turning his key in the ignition of the car that Leo lent him. 'So what DO I get her… Hmmm…' He thought silently, waiting for a brilliant idea to come to him.

And at last it came. Without wasting another moment, he drove off.

"Thanks for the lunch date, Ben." Kimiko said, reaching over to kiss Ben on the cheek. It was really considerate of him to bring her to an expensive restaurant, just for a small date. He was still the perfect guy… the perfect guy any girl would have wanted to date.

"It's no problem, Kimiko. Anytime." He said shyly, flashing her a megawatt smile. He started driving her back home when he suddenly stopped the car. Kimiko looked out the window to see what was distracting him.

It was a blond-haired girl with bright blue eyes, who looked… angry.

"Do you know her, Ben?" Kimiko asked worriedly.

"As a matter of fact, I do. She's my… classmate." He said slowly. "Excuse me for a moment, I have to talk to her." He said, getting out of the car. Without another word, the blond haired girl yanked him by the arm and pulled him to the nearby building so that they could talk in private.

Kimiko slumped down in her seat. She knew it was bad enough to eavesdrop, probably their meeting was private. But she could hear the girl's impertinent voice shouting at him. Had Ben done something wrong?

Kimiko suddenly had a thought. Wait—If she was Ben's classmate, why didn't she see her at the dance? She would have come over and said hello to Ben. But Kimiko had never seen that girl in her life. What could she be doing here, shouting at Ben?

Then a horrible thought occurred to Kimiko. What if Ben was cheating on her? It dawned on her. It could… possibly… make sense. The girl could be mad because she saw him with Kimiko.

Then Kimiko chided herself. Ben would never do that—he was PERFECT. Could anyone ask for a better guy? Maybe she was just being insecure.

Then Raimundo's words came back to her. "Hey, Kim, just promise me you'll take care of yourself." Could he possibly mean that she needed to be careful around Ben?

Her thoughts were conflicting. Which could possibly be the right answer? She bent over the car seat and listened in to Ben and the other girl's conversation.

Raimundo came back to the Xiaolin Temple, exhausted. He placed the wrapped object that he went out to buy in Kimiko's room. Before he could forget, he placed the card so she could track from whom it came from.

Everything was perfect.

"How could you, Ben? I trusted you… and you betrayed me. Who is that girl?" Lucy demanded. Ben had never seen her this furious before. Her face was practically red to her roots.

'Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why didn't I remember that Lucy worked here… I could have avoided it, but no! This must be fate. Punishment.' Ben cursed himself silently. "Lucy, that was no one. She was there because she's my classmate. Okay? Nothing to be so worried about." He assured her lamely.

"You didn't answer my question. WHO IS SHE AND WHAT IS HER RELATIONSHIP TO YOU?" Veins were bulging on one side of her face, due to her fury and rage.

"Her name's Kimiko. Okay? You can ask her. And besides, she's only a friend. Nothing more. Would I dare betray you, Lucy? I love you. Remember?"

She crossed her arms. "How sure am I that you're not cheating on me? Give me proof." She demanded.

'Possessive bitch,' Ben swore to himself. She was being too jealous. "You know what, forget it! Quit our relationship. You're on your own, you jealous bitch." He spat.

Her look changed to one that was already about to cry. She looked shaken. "Surely… Ben… you don't mean that?"

"Look! I was already trying to explain to you. And you don't trust me! Where is love without trust?" he shouted.

Her lower lip quivered. What a weak, gullible girl. "But Ben! We cannot break up. I love you too much. I'm so, so sorry. I won't be jealous again, I promise." She said, giving him a hug before broke down into tears.

"I'll talk to you later." He said icily. Then he turned on his heel to leave. Lucy was still there, her mascara smeared and her makeup ruined with her tears. She ran down the street, without another word.

Ben sauntered back to the car, where Kimiko was waiting. Her face was contorted in an indescribable expression. "Hey, Kim. I'm sorry about that." Ben apologized. He wondered if she overheard the whole thing.

"It's okay." She said, unusually quiet. Ben took the wheel and drove her back to the Xiaolin Temple. "Are you sure you're okay, Kim?" he said.

"I'm okay. Don't worry about me." She said quietly. "Bye, Ben."

She slipped back in the temple. Ben fumed, and cursed himself. What an idiot he was, not knowing how to handle girls.

Kimiko climbed up the stairs to her room, pondering over what she had heard from their conversation. She was obviously Ben's girlfriend… his other girlfriend. He was cheating on her. How could she have been so stupid?

She had to control herself from yelling at him. He had already gotten enough of that from that girl—what was her name? Oh yes, Lucy.

How could he betray Kimiko's trust? Wasn't their relationship enough, so he had to have another one? She felt so lonely and miserable.

She opened the lock to her bedroom, ready to collapse on her bed, but she saw a small package wrapped in pink foil and a ribbon. She eyed it curiously, wondering who had sent it.

She checked the card, and it brought a smile to her face. Raimundo was so thoughtful. Who knew he could be this sweet? She opened the gift, careful not to tear the pink foil too much. And she brought out a notebook with a beautiful design, along with a silver pen.

She smiled. Raimundo knew how to cheer her up, even with small gifts. She must remember to thank him later.

Raimundo checked his watch when he heard the door to Kimiko's bedroom open and close. He had been waiting for her, timing when she would possibly unwrap the gift. He hoped that she would like it—he personally chose the design himself.

Then he wondered what had gone on in her date. He clenched his fist, wanting to connect it with Ben's ugly face. Thinking of how good her date with Ben had been made Raimundo's anger rise.

Then a timid knock came on his door. Thinking that this was probably Omi or someone else, he opened it. Before he knew it, he was enveloped in a hug. "Kim! Watch it, you might strangle me." He joked, but hugged her back.

"Oh, Raimundo. Thanks for the gift… I really like it." She kissed him swiftly on the cheek. "Now I have something to tell you." She said.

Raimundo invited her to sit on his bed, and he sat across her, on his chair. He wondered what she had to tell him all so suddenly.

A/N: Now this is where chapter 8 ends, sorry for the cliffie! Hope to continue soon…