-1''Hey Dojo? Have you seen Raimundo and Jack? It started raining an hour ago. They were outside the last time anyone saw them and have not returned since. I am afraid that if they stay out much longer, they will catch the dreaded pneumonia!'' Said Omi. It was then that Jack and Rai burst through the temple doors. They were panting, soaking wet, a little flushed, and, not to mention, looking quite pleased. "Oooh! My friends! Are you alright?!'' Exclaimed Omi. ''Oh, we're fine Omi. In fact, we've never been better!'' They both started laughing. Interesting, thought Dojo, as he watched Jack and Rai walk to the bathrooms to dry off. Very interesting. ''Dirty snake!'' Dojo turned to see Clay looking angrily at Jack. Dojo sighed, but had long ago given up on trying to make Clay see that Jack was harmless, at least to them. ''Clay?'' Master Feng called, ''May I speak with you?''
''Sure.'' Clay followed Feng back to his meditation room/house where he had spoken to Rai and Jack only moments before. They both took a seat. ''Clay, it's about Jack, I-'' Clay interrupted. ''Don't worry Master Feng! I'll keep an eye on him for you!'' Feng calmly smacked Clay upside the head. His cowboy hat fluttered to the ground, ''What was that for?!'' Clay demanded to know, as he scooped up the hat and placed it back on his head. ''Although I am usually against physically harming my students to teach a lesson, I was hoping to knock some sense into you. Jack has been here for a month and a half now and shows no signs of returning or remaining in the darkness. Now you will go apologize to him and I will have no more prejudice amongst my students.''
''But Ma-''
''Do it Clay!"
"Yes, Master Feng.''
Clay walked off gloomily and went to find Jack. He pushed open the flap that served as a door for Rai and Jack's little slot, the same as the ones that all the Xiaolin Dragons each got to serve as their bedrooms. What he saw was not what he expected to see. Rai was on top of Jack, pinning him down on the mat, their lips pressed together. Clay blanched. He ran back to Master Feng. ''I told you he was a two-faced fink!'' Clay told him what he saw. Feng's eyes twinkled in amusement. ''Although I wanted Rai to be good friends with Jack, that's a little friendlier than I had expected. Clay, I don't see how this makes Jack evil. And don't even think of saying that Jack was molesting Raimundo. Because if what you described in way too much detail is true, and I have no doubt in your honesty, just your judgment, then, if anyone was molesting anybody, it would be Raimundo molesting Jack, not the other way around. Now please wait until Jack and Rai are, errmm, finished, then go apologize to Jack for behavior towards him.'' Clay left. ''I do hope Raimundo wasn't really molesting Jack''
''No, I don't think he was,'' Said a voice behind Master Feng. He turned dojo grinning at him. ''Earlier they came bursting through the main temple house's doors after spending an hour out in the rain. They were looking pretty pleased for people who just got soaked. And...'' Dojo told him what they had said to Omi. ''I think they were 'getting to know' one another out in the forest.'' Master Feng rubbed his temples,'' Although I have no problem with homosexuals, I have no particular desire to have my student's sexual going ons reported to me.'' Dojo grinned again and left. ''Ahh, teenage boys. So much energy.''
Clay waited outside Rai and Jack's room, but never was able to get the nerve up to go in after what he saw before. So Clay, at about three in the morning, went to his own cubicle, and went to sleep. Back at Rai and Jack's room, the two boys weren't having much luck doing the same. They had completely lost track of time. They had once again found an infinite number of things to talk about. From their favorite color to Quantum Physics, though in this segment of the conversation, it was mostly Jack explaining to a baffled Rai the tendencies of these physics. Somehow, during the conversation, Rai found his way into Jack's lap, who wound his arms around Rai. And this, right in the middle of the conversation, was how they fell asleep.
Jack woke up to a serious crick in his neck, due to falling asleep sitting up. He was about to get up when he realized that Rai was still on top of him, happily asleep. He was curled up in Jack's lap, his head resting on Jack's chest. One of Jack's hands was on Rai's head, his fingers curled in the boy's hair. His arm, the one not attached to the hand on Rai's head, was wrapped around Rai's waist. Jack smiled at the sleeping boy. He shook him gently, waking him. ''Huh? Wah? What's goin' on?'' Jack chuckled, ''It's time to get up.''
''Aww, but I don't wanna,'' Rai pushed his face into Jack's chest, ''Just five more minutes,'' Came Rai's muffled voice. Jack grinned and calmly picked Rai up and set back down on the mat. ''Wah? Where'd my pillow go?'' Rai said as Jack left. Jack poked his head back into the room. Your 'pillow' went to go get breakfast, it's hungry. Rai grinned and followed Jack out. The other four Dragons, having already finished breakfast, were sitting around the table, talking. ''Why, hello Raimundo, hello fi-Jack. Have fun last night?'' Clay looked at them with a devilish grin. Rai and Jack looked back at him in surprise. They both knew what he was getting at. Rai soon got over his surprise. He smiled, just as devilishly as Clay. ''Why Clay, I believe we did,'' And with that Rai pressed his mouth against Jack's. Jack made a small protesting noise. I mean, he was hungry after all, and this was going to take some explaining, especially for Omi. But then he decided that Rai was as good as breakfast as any, and kissed Rai back with just as much force. That's when Feng walked in, who just turned around and walked back out. When they broke apart, Clay looked angry, disgusted and surprised, all rolled into one. Kimiko looked shocked and just a little bit hurt, she had had a crush on Rai. Sylvan as uncaring and as unresponsive as he always did. And Omi, well, Omi was just confused, highly confused. Clay was the first to speak, ''See! I told you they were disgusting little slime balls!'' Kimiko looked angry, but before she could say anything, Sylvan coolly swiped Clay's hat from his head, dunked it in the cold dishwater leftover from cleaning the breakfast dishes and slapped Clay across the face with it (and if anyone has been slapped across the face with a cold, wet, cowboy hat, well, you know it hurts like hell) ''Close-minded ideas are like poison to the suicidal,'' He said, ''it seems like a welcoming and easy way out, but it always ends up being a bitter and stupid decision in the end.'' And with that, he put Clay's hat back where it belonged and walked out. ''Yeah, what he said,'' Said Kimiko, who had gotten over her hurt, because she had always known deep down that Rai was gay. Clay, looking angry that his plan to turn everyone against Jack and Rai had back-fired, stormed out. ''Will someone please tell me why Rai kissed a boy? I thought boys were supposed to kiss girls.'' Kimiko began to explain to Omi that most boys do kiss girls, but some boys kiss other boys, and also how the same thing applied to girls, as well. But of course, nothing was that simple with Omi. Jack and Rai decided that they weren't hungry anymore, so they left poor Kimiko to her explanation and went outside. Once outside, they started cracking up. ''That was...+pant pant+...too funny.'' Said Jack, who was wiping tears from his eyes. ''Yeah, the way Sylvan reacted to Clay's statement was priceless.''
''I never knew that the kid had that much reaction in 'im.'' After they were finished laughing, they pondered on what to do. ''Hey, we could pull a series of pranks on Clay.''
''Nah,'' Said Jack, ''The guy already dislikes us enough, we don't need to give him a reason to actually hate us.''
''I already actually hate you. Jack, I'm sorry for the way I treated you. But I'm actually not. Master Feng made me say that.'' Clay started walking away. ''Well fine,'' Jack called after him, ''maybe we will play pranks on you. And they'll be the painful kind, too!''
''Really?'' Rai asked hopefully. ''No,'' Jack said in a firm voice, ''Not really. There's many ways something like that could go wrong, each a little more gruesome than the next, besides, reacting that way is very, I don't know, stupid and childish. I'm not saying your stupid and childish, of course. I mean, I know you play pranks all the time, but those are just for fun and aren't dangerous. Playing dangerous practical jokes for revenge, however, is a-''
''Stupid and childish way to react. Your right, Jack.''
''Wise decision, young Dragons. Immature thoughts are not meant to be dealt with immature acts. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a breakfast to eat.'' He left. ''Hmmm, guess this makes you my better half.'' Said Rai. ''Aww man, that's not fair. I'm supposed to have a greedy black heart, remember? You're supposed to be my better half. I mean, I have a reputation to uphold here.'' Jack pretended to pout and then grinned as he pulled Rai into his lap. Mine, he thought. ''Maybe it's time to start building a new reputation,'' Rai said and rested his head on Jack's chest. ''Maybe instead of 'Jack Spicer, Evil Boy Genius, Prince of Darkness', you could be, 'Jack Spicer, Not So Evil Boy Genius, Prince of Love.''' They laughed together.
For a while, they sat in silence, until, ''Why is the sky blue?'' They turned to see Omi looking up at the sky curiously. He looked back at Jack and Rai and noticed their position, ''Ooo! Jack are you giving away boy hugs? Can I have one? I'd rather have a girl hug, but Kimiko won't give one to me.''
''Uhh, Omi, the sky is blue because...'' Jack launched into a long and involved explanation of exactly and precisely why the sky was, not only blue, but sometimes an array of different colors, in order to distract Omi from the whole 'hug' subject, because he was very comfortable in his current position and did not wish to move. Once he finished, Omi skipped off to find Kimiko to ask her that, if fire was destroyed by water, does that mean he was better than her? ''Guys!'' They heard call, ''We've have a live one!'' Meaning a Sheng Gong Wu just activated. ''C'mon!'' Dojo said. Rai and Jack climbed on to Dojo, along with the other Xiaolin Dragons, and Dojo followed his senses to the location of the Sheng Gong Wu. When they arrived, they jumped from Dojo's back to the rocky mountainside and ran around the boulder they had landed behind, only to come face to face with Vlad and Wuya. ''Wuya! I was hoping to never to see your ugly old hag-face again!''
''Jack! What are you doing with the Xiaolin apprentices?"
"I'm on the Xiaolin side now. I'm the Dragon of Darkness. See?'' Jack gestured to Vlad. While they were talking, Jack had tied the Russian to the boulder with tendrils of Darkness. Jack easily plucked the Sheng Gong Wu out of Vlad's hand. ''You'll come loose in thirty minutes or so, toodles.'' Grinning, laughing, and congratulating Jack (except for Clay), the Xiaolin warriors stepped on to Dojo (Jack a little uneasily, his stomach hadn't settled from the ride over here) and went home happily (except for, once again, Clay). It was late in the evening by the time they got back. Master Feng congratulated the apprentices for their victory, who in turn gave all the credit to Jack (except for Clay...again), who in turn, was nowhere to be found. ''Hey, where's Jack?'' Rai asked. '''Course you would want to know, Partner.'' He spat the last word out. ''Shut up Clay.'' They all said. Rai walked off. ''Kimiko, why is Raimundo holding his middle finger up at Clay?''
''Never mind Omi.''
Rai found Jack in their room, listening to the I-pod he brought from the mansion. Rai tapped Jack on the shoulder. Jack took out the earphones and leaned back, resting on his forearms. ''Wha?''
''Where did you disappear to? Huh?''
"What is this, the third degree?'' Jack grinned, ''I hate being at the center of attention. Even if it is good publicity. ''Really? I always thought you liked the attention. You're always so, so...over-dramatic, yeah, that's it.'' Jack pretended to be hurt. ''I am not over-dramatic!''
''See! There you go again! Over-dramatizing! You were-nrmph!'' Jack had pressed his lips against Rai's and was kissing him gently. When they pulled apart, Jack grinned, ''Rai, you talk to much.''
"I'll never stop talking if that's how you're going to shut me up. Yadda, yadda, blah blah, yikkity yakkity, yak yak yak, blah bla- mph!''
"Put a sock in it Rai!'' Jack had shoved one of his clean socks into Rai's mouth. Jack chuckled and laid on his stomach on top of Rai, who was laying on his back. Master Feng walked and paled. The two boys knew how they must look to him, Rai, sock in his mouth, seemingly being pinned down by Jack. ''I was going to congratulate Jack on his performance today, but I can see that you beat me to it, Raimundo.''
''We can explain!'' They both said, well, since Rai had a sock in his mouth, it sounded more like, ''Meeph maen merfmaim!''
''Oh, that's quite alright. There's only so many unnecessary details an old man can take before it becomes one too many unnecessary details.'' He walked out, pale, yet still smiling. Rai took the sock out of his mouth, his face red, and threw it at Jack. It bounced off his forehead and landed on the ground a few feet away. Jack was scared he had made Rai mad at him. Rai saw this. ''Don't worry, I'm not mad at you.''
''Yay!''
''You're a fruit, you know that?''
"Yep!" Rai wrapped his arms around Jack. ''Go to sleep Jack.''
''Like this?''
''Yep!'' Still in the same position their master had found them in, the two youths fell asleep.
The next morning Rai woke up to wind in his hair, ''Mmmm, the wind feels...wait a minute, wind?" Rai tried to sit up, but Jack was still on top of him. He looked to the right. They were on Dojo. ''Why didn't you guys wake us up?'' Rai asked, gently rousing Jack, who, when he saw where they were, clung to Rai even tighter. ''You looked tired... and comfortable.'' Said Kimiko. ''Yes,'' Said Omi, grinning, ''You looked, how you say, as snug as a beetle in a carpet!''
''Uhh, that's bug in a rug, Omi'' Rai said. ''Jack get up, it will be harder to stay on if we are laying down.'' Once in the appropriate positions, Rai spoke up again. ''Where are we going?"
''Another Dragon's powers were revealed, the Dragon of Light.''
''Cool.'' Said Rai. ''Oh, it is very cold, Raimundo!" Rai sighed at Omi's lack of slang knowledge. ''That's cool, Omi, cool.''
"This is what I say!'' Rai rolled his eyes.