The Balance in Love, Lies and War
Chapter 11
'Stumbling into deeper Secrets'
"He doesn't deserve her." Chase kept mumbling, as if trying to convince himself. He stepped over a fallen flower, careful not to tread on its beautiful, sweet smelling petals, then continued trekking through the garden. He stayed away from the path, not wanting to be seen by people travelling along it, though Raimundo and Kaida were the only ones he had seen using it.
He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to bother Kaida again, it was too soon. But of course, he had woken up with a headache the size of a continent and a note from Athanasius telling him to try again, this time with Kaida on her own. He didn't want to do it, he was repulsed by the idea, but Athanasius was in charge. The huge bruises he had received from his beating told him that. Chase was glad he couldn't remember any of it.
Looking into a nearby pool of still water, Chase checked his face quickly. It looked normal, unblemished, untouched as usual, but as he leaned in closer, he scowled. The bruises were still visible, even if they were nothing more than a faint outline. The healing spell was taking too long. Of course, that was the downfall of Heylin magic; healing was nearly impossible, or at least extremely difficult. There were ways to achieve it without it taking so long or being so difficult, but Chase Young did not like thinking about or remembering them.
He scowled as the trees thinned out and soon the Xiaolin Temple was in clear sights. Staying in shadow, Chase stared at the building, in deep thought. He then muttered,
"I have no idea what the Hell I'm doing…"
"Daisuke, is that you?" Kaida asked gently, stepping into the dimly lit room. She had been on her way to the meditation chambers when she had heard a little sniffle, only to find the usually bright and optimistic twelve-year-old with his head buried in his hands. Looking up, the boy smiled weakly, replying,
"Golly gosh, Miss Kaida, I didn't see you there, are you alright?" Kaida nodded, sitting down beside him, asking quietly,
"Are you alright?" Daisuke nodded his head, rubbing his eyes, holding up a piece of paper, smiling.
"Just reading the letter my Dad just sent me." His smile faded as his eyes darted back to the paper, rereading part of it.
"What does it say?" Kaida asked, edging closer.
"He's not coming next week." There was an awkward silence as Kaida fought of the rage and the tears, trying to think of something to say.
"I'm sure he has…. Is that white in your hair?" Kaida asked quizzically, forgetting what she was actually about to say. Daisuke's smile seemed to grow and he seemed to radiate happiness once again.
"Oh, yeah, but it's natural, my mum was an albino and my dad has black hair so mine is streaked." He lowered his head, showing about five white streaks at the back of his head. Kaida nodded her head slowly.
'His mother died a couple of years ago' Kaida remembered Kimiko saying that and gulped.
"I don't see my mother anymore," Daisuke added wistfully, twiddling his fingers, playing with the corner of his letter. Kaida nodded her head again, unable to think of anything to say.
"Dad says I will do soon, but everyone says she's dead and calls him a lunatic. I want to believe she's still out there, but why else would she leave? She wouldn't have run away and if she was kidnapped they would've left a ransom note or something…" His voice trailed off and Kaida was fairly sure he was talking to himself more than to her. There was a silence until Kaida asked,
"So is that why you're at the temple?" Daisuke nodded.
"I would stay with my Granddad or Aunt or something, but my Dad was disowned when he married Mum. I was never told why." He shrugged as if it didn't matter and carried on twisting the corners of the letter, movements' frantic, jerky, hands shaking. Kaida placed a hand on his shaking shoulder nervously, whispering,
"Is that why you're upset?" Daisuke shook his head, smiling, shaking and for one moment Kaida thought he would deny being upset.
"I just want my parents back…" Suddenly his warm grey eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he slumped against Kaida, falling into her lap, motionless. Gasping, Kaida blushed slightly, shaking the boy frantically, having no idea what was going on, shouting,
"Daisuke! Wake up, wake up!" His eyelids fluttered open with a weary smile.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" Kaida helped him sit up, clasping her hands around his, scared he would collapse again, asking almost silently,
"What was that?" His head tilted back slightly, and his eyes were half closed, he didn't seem entirely awake.
"It's why my father was disowned, it's all my fault, it's 'cause I exist. I wasn't supposed to. My Dad says it's a common heart condition, but it was never confirmed by the doctors, and it's not just my heart." He clutched his chest fearfully and Kaida thought he would faint again, but he didn't. She felt something stab in her own heart, this 'heart condition' feeling strangely familiar. The Zen shivered.
"It's everywhere, it's not pain, just, tiredness, as if my body can't handle me. I'm so weak, the others blame it on my age, but it's this… thing. Whatever it is it's not a heart problem, it's deeper, darker than that. It scares me Miss Kaida." He clutched the white robes covering his chest tighter, and Kaida strengthened her grip on his shoulders, shaking terribly. His voice stated to get panicky, sweat beading on his brow.
"I heard my Granddad shout at my Dad, saying he knew it was wrong, it was my fault. I wasn't supposed to be here, if I wasn't here Mum would still be here 'cause Granddad would've helped us find her! There's an angel and demon, mixing magics, auras and creating-" His voice was cut off by a huge sob, shoulders shaking, tears running down his face. Trembling, he buried himself in Kaida's arms, wheezing, whispering,
"I just want my parents back…" Kaida nodded, holding him tight, shaking just as much as he was, letting him sob into her chest. Trying hard not to cry herself, Kaida heard the faint whisper of, 'Don't tell anyone about this…' and nodded, holding the boy that little bit tighter.
Slowly, he fell asleep, twitching in his dreams. Laying him gently down onto the soft pillows, Kaida kissed him on the head softly, before leaving the room, seething with anger.
'Akashki, whatever excuse you had for leaving your son like this isn't good enough anymore.' As she stormed away in a fierce mood, the Zen turned away, cringing.
'Child, if you knew why he left poor Daisuke you'd be after someone else.' Kaida ignored her, and continued on her way to the meditation room.
'Miss Balance,
I regret to inform you that Raimundo is no longer safe. I have him in my clutches and if you ever want him back I suggest you meet me and listen to me very, very carefully. I also regret to inform you that you must come alone. I shall be waiting, as always,
Chase Young.' Kaida read and reread the letter time after time and it still didn't sink in. Chase Young had Raimundo? Chase Young had Raimundo, her Raimundo? It didn't make sense to her. But it didn't have to. There was the slightest chance that Raimundo was in danger; she had to save him. Dropping the letter, she knew exactly where to go, an image filling her mind, sent from Chase Young's mind. Kaida shivered. Evening was drawing on and storm clouds gathered in the sky. She had to save Raimundo though. She darted out, running as fast as she could, rain drops spitting down on her skin.
"We're here." Kaida whispered. She was stood on the edge of a huge gorge, a river coursing through it, looking like a tiny stream from Kaida's height. She shivered, her whisper echoing quietly through the canyon.
"Welcome. I'm glad you could make it." Kaida turned around, but there was nobody there. Gulping, she replied,
"Chase Young, where's Raimundo?" her voice was no more than a loud whisper, the blackened clouds rolling into the sky. Her legs trembled. There was a soft chuckle and Kaida could just picture the smirk on his face. Her stomach twisted.
"I think you should be more worried about someone else." There was a threatening hiss in Kaida's ear, her heart pounding in her ribcage. Shrieking, she turned to see a black dragon's head, saliva running from its jaws, eyes hollowed out and glowing green. Suddenly, appearing from nowhere, the Cat-head appeared, taking the hilt of her sword in its mouth, throwing it far behind the girl, much to her distress. Kaida crouched down, shivering, realising this time the cat's eyes were hollowed out and glowing green, starring at the huge monster before turning back. The Silver Sword was at least ten metres behind her. Chase Young stood behind it, smirking as he chuckled.
"That person is you Miss Balance."
"Kimiko! Where is Miss Kaida! We have an emergency! We must find her and Raimundo immediately!" Omi exclaimed bursting into the meditation room, frantically waving a piece of paper in the air. Kimiko scowled and said,
"They're probably off in a broom cupboard making out, just leave them to it." Omi frowned and forced the paper in her face. She read it and gulped.
"Clay we have to find them…" Clay then snatched the paper, reading it quickly, face paling.
"That dirty no good snake!" Clay hissed getting up quickly. Just as the three monks were about to leave, Jack came running in, face paler than usual, almost white, shaking terribly.
"I… just… come quickly!" They followed him quickly and silently, fear coursing through their veins, hearts beating faster and faster. Jack showed them a cupboard and opened the door slowly. They all gasped.
"I fear very much for Kaida now…" Omi whispered. Raimundo was unconscious, tied up tightly with strong rope, a small trickle of blood escaping from under his hair.
She wanted to scream, but the sound couldn't leave her mouth. Her bones rattled underneath her skin in fear. A pair of slimy, stone hands reached up the gorge edge, a stone head peeking up, covered in melted rock, stringy hair, cracks in the stony surface. It had been a trap. On a cliff towering above them, a Thunder monster, black fur sticking up, electricity crackling fiercely howled and became a silhouette against the shinning moon, which was soon obscured by clouds. There was the slight rumble of thunder. Kaida could not stop shaking. On the same cliff a huge monster made of simmering magma started to lower itself down the cliff face, huge hands dripping with the steaming molten fire. It's body turned into a tail, much like a fiery mermaid or an armed snake, dripping the deadly liquid everywhere. Its eyes were hollowed out sockets, glowing green, and lava dripping from its lips. Kaida guessed it was the Monster of Lava. Far behind the Shadow monster, that leered and hissed at Kaida, was an ice monster, scowling, and cracking his icicle knuckles.
'Just breathe, keep breathing, don't think about them child, keep breathing, in and out…' the Zen kept repeating, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice. Kaida tried to breathe, but her lungs were being crushed by an overwhelming fear. Her heart pounded madly while being constricted in the prison of her ribcage, black spots appearing before her grey eyes, swaying slightly as she crouched on the ground.
'Not now, please, not now…' Kaida whispered to herself, the flash of lightening illuminating the terrifying scene. Monsters surrounded her. There was no escape. Turning quickly, towards Chase, shaking terribly, Kaida hissed,
"What is it you want from me?" Chase Young smirked and answered,
"What have I always wanted?" Kaida shivered again, the crash of thunder pounding into her ears. She felt faint, weak and alone. Then her heart stopped. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. It couldn't be… could it?
"Where is she! Where would he have taken her!" Raimundo shouted, ignoring the medic's efforts to mop up his head injury. Kimiko looked to the floor, close to tears.
"We've no idea, he must've sent the location through their link…" Raimundo seethed silently, glaring at the walls. Jack put his arm around Kimiko adding hotly,
"Getting angry is not going to help Rai." Rai glared at him for a second, thinking Jack's glare would cripple first, but the red head stayed strong. Raimundo sighed, his gaze softening.
"You're right… But what can we do that will help?" The monks looked at each other with apprehensive looks.
"There is one way, but it's not guaranteed to work…" Raimundo's eyes dared them to tell him.
"We're going to use the spirit's connection to find her, but there's a chance it won't work." Raimundo glared.
"It's been so long since the spirit's have been together, their connection to Kaida was… destroyed. The only chance we have is if someone who has been very… close to her has their link restored slightly, we can track her through that…" All eyes were on Rai. He smiled to himself before sighing.
'Liking someone like Kaida is always going to be an adventure isn't it?' Rai asked himself.
'You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. But it's worth it.' Was the Wind's only reply.
In her sword, there was a reflection of Chase Young. Kaida rubbed her eyes, swaying slightly. How could she see the reflection when Chase Young was on the other side of the sword? However, there it was, smirking at her. But that was the strange thing; it wasn't entirely smirking. Through the middle of the sword the reflection split, showing two people; who were exactly the same, but completely opposite. One was wearing a blue tunic, a simple, black bang covering his face, eye hidden in shadow, mouth curved in distraught frown. The other half was the Chase Young that stood behind the sword, smirking like a demon. Kaida rubbed her eyes again.
'It seems there are things we have yet to discover about the Silver Sword' the Zen whispered quietly. Kaida noted her voice was filled with a deep sadness, and could picture her misty grey eyes filling with tears as if she remembered something from long ago. Longing to leave this horrible lightning and comfort her Spirit, Kaida growled to Chase Young,
"How many times am I going to have to tell you before it gets through your thick skull and into you puny brain; I am not going to join you!" Just as she finished her sentence there came a crashing blow from above, slicing through her chest, burning through her skin. Choking, Kaida looked up to see the Lava monster, grinning with maliciousness, droplets of searing hot liquid dripping from it's mouth, the other creatures inching closer by the second. Kaida turned her head back towards Chase, blood dribbling down her bottom lip, with a hint of a smile.
"Y-y-you're f-f-f… blo-bloody s-s-sick, do y-you know that?" Chase Young's smirk lessened as he watched her misty grey eyes close and her body slump on the cold rock, rain spitting from the darkened clouds, steam issuing slowly from the lava burning through her skin. He scowled at the monsters, picking up Kaida's sword, striding towards the girl before snapping,
"What are you waiting for? Pick her up, we have to go!" As he walked by her, the monsters trudging behind, his hand waved over her and the slash across her chest began to close up, the skin knitting itself together, blood clotting on the surface, scabbing over. He continued walking, the monsters following behind him when a fireball whizzed fiercely past his face, missing be millimetres.
"Not so fast Asshole!"
It had taken the Xiaolin Warriors a while to find the canyon, Raimundo's link being hazy and misleading at points. On the last leg of their journey they had to rely on the fearsome howling and roaring and crashing, their link completely cut off. Now they saw why. Kaida was limp in the arms of an Ice monster, blood staining the black and white cloth. Raimundo gripped the Sword of the Storm tightly, feeling anger rush up inside of him. Kaida had been outnumber: five monsters and Chase Young to one, her. It made his blood boil.
Chase Young had turned around now, rolling his eyes at the Warriors, quickly weighing out his options in his mind. He could make his monsters attack them, but what would be the point?
"Be gone, foolish brats." And with a flick of his hand a huge gust of unnatural wind blasted them off the cliff edge, where they where standing and down into the abyss of the canyon.
Chase Young did not feel guilt. He just smiled, twisting round, preparing to travel home, and contemplating how such a little flick of his hand could cause so much damage.
Death had never really been such a big issue for the Warriors; it was highly unlikely that they would've been killed in a Xiaolin Showdown, and even more unlikely to be killed by a Shen Gong Wu. But when they dropped off that cliff, they had all thought they were going to die. Thank God Dojo had been hiding in Clay's hat and was an excellent flyer. They had then silently followed Chase Young, eyes staying with the body of their friend. They were fairly sure she was still breathing.
"Dojo, are you sure he went in there?" Jack asked quietly, shivering slightly, huddling behind Kimiko. Dojo turned back a second looking at the Warriors before flying around a large, sharp rock formation answering,
"I'm fairly sure…" No one said a word. The dragon flew down into the canyon, one of the many fissures covering the broken, decaying Earth. A slight mist surrounded them, hiding the fissure's depth from the Warrior's who peered into the gloom. Suddenly Dojo stopped. The Warriors jolted against each other, Jack tightening his grip around Kimiko, shaking.
"Dojo! What's wrong?" Omi exclaimed, untangling himself from Raimundo. Dojo looked back at them, eyes wide, muttering,
"You won't believe this…" He slowly started to descend, winding around the mist until all the Warriors could see clearly.
There was a huge rock formation, shaped like an open mouth, just underneath the layer of mist, fire spewing out of it's top. Glistening yellow eyeholes seemed to watch the Warriors, as if they were real eyes, the glow unnatural and disturbing. Underneath its glaring eyes were a giant mouth, wide open, and teeth ready to devour unwanted visitors. A platform stretched out like a tongue, three fires lighting the way on either side, almost tempting them to come closer. All around there were more sharp rocks towering above them and dwindling below them. The air was still, mist unmoving. The smoke from the flames simply drifted upwards.
"So this is what you've been doing Chase…" Dojo mumbled, the warriors too star struck to hear. Jack shivered again, unable to tear his eyes from the rocks monstrous gaze whispering,
"We're not going in there are we?" Kimiko held his hands that were gripped tightly around her middle and turned to kiss his cheek softly, not saying a word. None of them did. But Dojo started his descent towards the tongue like platform anyway.
"Put her down gently you oaf!" Chase shouted, rushing up the huge flight of white marble steps to retrieve medical supplies, watching the ice monster lay Kaida gently down on an altar at the bottom of the steps. His healing spell was weak and would take its time, something Kaida could run out of quickly. Unfortunately, on his way he met Athanasius. Surprised, Chase jumped back, not used to seeing the monarch out of the room with the giant fire.
"I see all went well. Aren't you glad you took my, advice." This statement was paired with an evil smirk, which sent a shiver down Chase's spine.
"I wish you hadn't made me do it, this was wrong." Chase was about to turn away, haste and concern forgetting the bruises that had only just healed up. Bruises that had been caused because Chase had forgotten to respect his master, forgotten his place. He was the servant, forever in the Demon King's debt while Athanasius was the master.
"Would you mind if Kaida disappeared from your clutches?" Athanasius hissed, smirking slightly. Chase Young jumped back, panicking, eyes wide, voice shaking as he asked,
"She's dying?" Athanasius laughed, shaking his head. Pointing down towards the steps Chase had just rushed up.
"No, but you have unwanted visitors who wish to take Kaida Balance away from you." Panicking, Chase had barely heard the rest of the King's sentence before he was sprinting towards the steps, grabbing hold of the banister and jumping down half a dozen steps. He had no idea who Athanasius was talking about, but his heart pumped, unsure of who he would see. Much to his surprise he saw the Xiaolin Warriors and Jack, Raimundo holding Kaida in his arms, bridal style, her arms dangling down; blood dribbling through the opening wound. Chase's heart sunk slightly, seeing the wound reopen, barely paying attention to the Warriors. He tried to step closer towards her but Dojo slithered onto the scene, eyes fierce and wild, something clutched in his golden claws, shouting,
"You took it!" Chase inhaled calmly, determined to get past the dragon to his Princess.
"We meet again Dojo." Dojo huffed, smoke escaping his nostrils, tail thrashing against the floor, eyes filled with fire.
"After all he did for you, you took it! What, you wanted to stab him in the back again?" Dojo roared, swiping at Chase with his free hand, who nimbly jumped out of the way.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean, my old acquaintance-" a large roar and another swipe that held true, slashing Chase across the chest in the same fashion that Kaida had been slashed, cut off his sentence.
"There, now you can suffer as she does! If you ever touch another one of these Warriors, I swear by the ghost of Dashi himself I'll cause you as much pain as you caused him!" With that, the dragon swept underneath the Warriors, forcing them to fall onto his back, and exited Chase Young's lair in a stormy temper, tail thrashing against the door in a final act of anger. As he passed Chase Young, who was now bleeding, the fallen warrior saw the scared faces of the warriors and the object held in Dojo's claws. Fury welled up inside of him and Chase jumped up, forcing himself to run up the stairs again. Athanasius looked amused, brushing invisible dust off his silhouetted shoulders.
"And what brings you back so soon? Did you apprehend the 'visitors'?" They circled one another with slow footsteps, Athanasius with a predatory glint in his crimson eyes. Chase knew Athanasius had seen what had happened, the gash on his chest was proof enough of that, but the Demon King just wanted to hear of his failure from his own lips. Avoiding the question, choosing his words carefully Chase asked,
"Why did Dojo find the Shadow of Joy here? I never took it from Dashi." Athanasius grinned.
"Are you suggesting I took it?" Chase narrowed his eyes as Athanasius stopped circling, stopping as well.
"Yes." Was Chase's only reply. The circling began again, but in the opposite direction. Athanasius smirked slightly, drawling,
"I took it to make some… modifications." Chase uttered a growl that sounded deep in his throat, fists clenching by his sides.
"What sort of modifications?" Athanasius turned away, dismissing the subject with a flick of his hand.
"You'll see."
"What happened back there Dojo! What's that? Why are you and Chase Young old acquaintances?" Omi asked, shouting above the wind that threatened to loosen their grasp and send them all down to their deaths. Dojo did not turn around, growling loudly,
"Master Fung will tell you when you're ready." Raimundo kicked the dragon, furiously yelling,
"Kaida's nearly dead and you won't tell us what the hell is going on! There's a load of crap we don't understand and you're not bloody helping us! For all we know you could be on his side!" Dojo turned around to them sharply, jolting them, roaring loudly,
"If you ever suggest that again I will rip you apart! I'm not going to tell you because none of you are ready! Master Fung is not going to talk to you about those sort of things when you're acting like immature babies, grow up!" He turned back around and snorted, the guilt already welling up inside of him. His head pounded as something whispered in his head, so faintly Dojo only caught,
"…leave you to it." Turning back to the Warriors he winced as he saw what his angry words had done. Raimundo was looking down at Kaida, frowning, Clay patting Omi gently on the shoulder, both looking dejected and ashamed. Jack hid behind a shaking Kimiko, tears welling in his crimson eyes. Sighing Dojo said softly,
"Guys, I'm sorry, I just got worked up…" They nodded in silent acceptation, but none made a sound. Dojo's words had struck them deep in their hearts. They were just a bunch of kids with no idea what the Hell was going on. The thought frightened them all far more than any monster ever could.
"Kaida! Kaida! Where are you! Kaida!" The Zen called out desperately, tears rolling down her black and white face, glistening on the blue gems. She sat beside the forever blooming Cherry tree, petals falling to the floor softly, but it did not comfort the dragon. She reached out to the heavy marble door, which was locked from both the inside and the outside, longing to break through it, but knew she shouldn't. It was an unwritten rule that not even the Spirit of Zen dare not break. But she knew what lay beyond that door, and just the thought of that made it seem almost all right to break down the door, just to save Kaida from it.
There was the scrape of marble against marble, the lock slowly being pulled back by weary hands, and the Zen sat up, daring to hope. Kaida stumbled in, clutching her chest in pain, tears running down her face, smearing her makeup. Locking the door behind her, the Zen caught a whiff of burnt skin and dark despair before the bolt was pushed through, scraping against the marble. Kaida then continued to stumble forward before falling into the Zen's awaiting arms.
"Child, you're safe now…" Kaida nodded, sobbing into the dragon's chest, wrapping her arms around her, smelling the sweet smell of cherry blossom, feeling the Zen's warmth against her cold body. Here she could forget what lay beyond the bolted marble door. It had a lock on either side for a reason. The Zen pitied the poor girl as she thought to herself, as she had done every time this had happened, nearly every night,
'My child cannot even find sanctuary in her mind…'
A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown or any of it's plot or characters
Other: Ok, so it was less of a big fight and more of a 'scare-Kaida-to-death' scene... Still it was fun :D Not much fluffiness in this (What! it's not THAT much), it's darker, I think. And Daisuke! -heart- Poor Daisuke, I love him so but he's just so tragic, and mysterious ;) There's ALOT you don't know isn't there ;) (Ha! I do :D) Just goes to show this story has alot more then romance to it ;) (Most of the romance is in this story though, in the sequel, it's more fighting and creepyness ;D)
Do any of you have any idea what's going on? I mean seriously, is it all too confusing or anything? Just wondering. Comments/Critques/Suggestions would be most appreciated :)
R&R my lovely readers, I love you soooooo much :D (And I mean it. I mean, 7 faves, 4 alerts, 18 reviews and 1900 hits! I think that's good :D)