Disclaimer – I DON'T OWN IT BUT I WISH I FRICKING DID! PLEASE BRING IT BACK ON AIR! EVEN IF IT'S JUST RE-RUNS OR SOMETHING! C'MON!
* ~ Unloved ~ *
(7)
While Jack was in the basement managing the Shen Gong Wu, Wuya and I waited in the kitchen/dining room for Riley to arrive. I was sat at the counter my arms folded on the surface top and my head turned to the side away from the witch who was leaning against the wall with her arms also folded but across her chest. I had my head turned away from her because I knew full well she was staring at – or should I say watching – me and I had a feeling it was because of last night.
I still didn't fully understand my motives for checking on Jack. I just knew that something didn't feel right at the time and I needed to know if my friend was alright.
I let out a sigh and glanced at my mobile phone to check if Riley had replied to my second text yet. Nope. Maybe she was almost here.
"How is it that I wouldn't understand?" Wuya finally asked breaking the silence and continuing the conversation I had, quite literally, run from last night.
I groaned as I turned my head to look at her as I replied sarcastically, "Oh, I hope my little comment didn't keep you up all night." She snorted unimpressed. I sighed resting my head on my arms and closed my eyes still tired, "You just wouldn't, okay? Leave it."
"You can't understand my being suspicious?" she asked, ignoring my wishes to stop talking about it.
I sighed again heavily, "No, I fully understand why you would be feeling that way. I'd be exactly the same if the situation was reversed but...I just don't get it myself," I opened my eyes to see her staring at me, waiting for me to elaborate, "It was just a feeling. Like something I sensed."
"A feeling?" she repeated dully. She scoffed and then asked smirking, "And what did you find?"
"Well, nothing," she laughed out loud and I felt my cheeks darken which angered me, "See! You don't understand!"
"Oh, I understand, alright!" she chuckled holding her sides now, "You've got a crush on Jack!"
"WHAT!" I cried.
"What about me?" Jack asked entering the room with a medium-sized box which he set on the counter in front of me. He obviously – thankfully – hadn't heard what that clueless bloody witch had just said and luckily didn't seem too interested about it either.
"Nothing," I quickly replied before Wuya said anything, "the woman's insane," I then began helping Jack unload the box on to the counter. He had brought in a couple of Shen Gong Wu, "What's this?"
"A few important Wu we can use, or otherwise keep on our bodies. I've learnt over the years that no place is secure enough to hold them," he shrugged. He gestured to them after he set the last one down and said, "Pick one."
"Okay..." I scanned my eyes over them all, but my eyes kept trailing back to a golden glove with razor claws. I pointed to it, "That one."
"These are the Golden Tiger Claws," he told me, picking the glove up and holding it out to me. I slid my hand in to the device while he explained its functions, "This Wu allows you to jump time and space. You can't travel through or stop time with this one but you can open a rift in this dimension and teleport, so to speak, wherever you want."
I marvelled in silence for a few seconds twisting my hand around so I could scan the whole thing. A smile slowly grew on my face and I cried out, "Golden Tiger Claws!"
I threw my hand out wondering how to work it properly and the hollow space in which my hand had moved across literally ripped, like a piece of paper. Without hesitation I jumped in to the void and fell out the other side in my own back garden. I looked around half-expecting to see Wuya and Jack. But when I realised they were no where in sight I jumped up and squealed with excitement. I ran around in a giddy circle trying to somehow get rid of all this excitement before I returned. I stopped, took a deep breath and smiled shouting, "Golden Tiger Claws!"
I reappeared back in Jack's kitchen to see him leaning against the counter with a carton of apple juice in hand. Wuya was seated at the counter now in the seat beside where I had been only minutes ago.
"Told you she'd come back," Jack grumbled at Wuya before sipping his juice again. The witch just rolled her eyes.
"That was amazing!" I cried – the broad smile still on my face, "What do the others do?"
Jack smiled and went to begin explaining when the door bell rang.
"Riley!" I exclaimed and dashed through the house to the other side and opened the door, "Riley!"
"Um, excuse me?" My face fell. It wasn't Riley. I didn't know who it was. This girl didn't look familiar to me at all.
My expression changed completely from excitement to boredom and I leaned against the door with one hand on my hip as I asked non-too-politely, "Yeah? What do you want?" – What? She'd disappointed me.
"Err..." the girl's expression was confused and after a moment she replied in an uncertain tone, "I was just wondering...do the Spicer's still live here?"
"You want me to get Jack?" I asked crossing my arms now and lifting an eyebrow.
"Erm, no," she replied coolly with a shake of her head. She seemed to notice my expectant expression and added, "I mean, um...don't bother him if he's busy. I was just in the neighbourhood and wanted to check how my old...friends were doing."
"Uh, huh," I replied not believing her.
"For goodness sake, child, who's at the door?" Wuya cried and pushed passed me. She stopped and the girl outside gasped and did an amazing back-flip landing about ten feet away. Wuya smirked and placed her hands on her hips, "And what brings you here, young monk?"
"Monk?" I repeated, and then the realisation hit, "She's one of the Xiaolin Dragon?"
"Kimiko?" I heard Jack say from behind me. I turned to see him peering around me and the door. His eyes widened when he found her and he quickly edged around me without a word and came to stand beside the witch, "Kimiko...you look good? How have you been?"
Kimiko blinked her cool blue eyes and – I suppose – realising there was no instant threat, relaxed her posture a little. She still kept her distance though. She heaved a sigh and ran a hand through shoulder length black hair before replying, "Well, I don't know, Jack. I've been fine up until recently. The years have been peaceful and kind," she paused and looked him up and down before adding under her breath – but loud enough for him to at least hear "Well to me and the boys at least."
Ouch! That was a bit harsh. But Jack either ignored it or just didn't catch the dig, "W-why? What's up?"
"The Vault was broken in to last night," she explained, her eyes narrowed at him.
"Was it?" Jack replied a few seconds too late.
"Return the Shen Gong Wu before this turns in to another war, Jack," she warned him.
"Wha-You think I stole them?" he asked in an exaggerated manner.
Just then Riley appeared from around the corner of the wall surrounding the Spicer grounds. She slowed to a halt as she noticed and tried to evaluate the situation. She glanced at Kimiko before looking to me for help, but I just shrugged.
"Hey, Riley," Jack greeted her with a small wave. He gestured to the Xiaolin monk, who was now casting a cold stare at our confused friend, "This is Kimiko. The Dragon of Fire."
"They found out already?" Riley shrieked.
Wuya groaned and turned away shaking her head. I just sighed with a shrug. Jack didn't move and since he was still turned toward the girls I couldn't tell what his expression was. The black haired monk simply turned her gaze back on Jack with one eyebrow raised accusingly.
"Oh," Riley said realising her slip up, "Whoops!"
"We'd like them back preferably now but if you'd rather have some time to gather all the Wu you stole and drop them off at the temple later that would be allowed. The deadline is midnight – emphasis on the 'dead'," she turned and began to walk away.
"Err, bye," Riley smiled as she stalked passed her. She only got a blank stare in return.
"Master Fung must be working them too hard," Wuya commented, "She's lost her character."
"Still as gorgeous as ever though," Jack added with an amused chuckle.
They turned back to the house and Riley jogged over to catch up as we all gathered back inside. We returned to the kitchen where Jack stood beside the counter again and Wuya and I sat on the stools opposite. Riley hopped up on the counter surface across the way and quickly apologised, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I didn't realise. I didn't think."
"That's something that Jack never does either," Wuya grumbled under her breath.
He ignored the witch. "Don't worry, Riley, its fine. Things happen," Jack assured her and threw in a wink at the end.
Wuya scoffed, "Don't pretend like it's her fault! You can't act for shit! The dragon knew we'd taken them as soon as you opened your mouth. 'Oh, hi, Kimiko. How are you, Kimiko? Looking sexy, Kimiko!' Geez! Whoever heard of someone being nice to the enemy?"
"I never said sexy!" Jack shouted back, his face had coloured slightly.
Wuya just stared at him in disbelief, "Is that really the only thing you heard me say?"
"Is it so wrong to be friendly after so many years?" he asked with a frown and crossing his arms defensively.
"Well, I'm not sure, but it didn't seem like the do-gooder was all joyful and bubbly like she used be with her little friends," Wuya sighed and rest her chin on her hand with her elbow propped up on the counter, "And don't even try to tell me you would've greeted the boys in the same manner."
"Of course, I would! It's been years since I've seen any of them. Not days, like before!" Jack cried.
"Oh, right!" Wuya said nodding her head in mock agreement, "Yeah, of course. Any of the others would have knocked on the door and you'd be exactly the same. 'Hey, Raimundo! How are you, Raimundo? Looking sexy Raimundo'. Yeah?"
"No!" Jack shouted.
I laughed and Riley giggled. Wuya smiled at me with appreciation, I suppose.
"Oh, shut up, witch!" Jack grumbled, "Riley, choose a Shen Gong Wu so we can all get in the jet and make our way to Chase's."
"What about what that Kimiko said?" I asked.
"You really think we're going to give them back?" Wuya asked, casting me a look as if I were stupid.
"I guess not," I shrugged. I looked to Riley who jumped off the counter top and bounced toward the Wu on display.
Kimiko was much colder to Jack than she used to be and also not as lively either. And why did she show up alone? What Shen Gong Wu will Riley choose? And what will she make of this Chase Young?
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