Warning!

I have no idea how it came to this but, although this fic is rated T, I would suggest that those who are under the age of 16 or those who are easily offended do not read this chapter.
As much as I would like to pretend this story is still as innocent and sweet as it was nearly three years ago, it isn't and this chapter contains violence and gore, sexual themes and is all together depressing.
I tried very hard to sweeten it but unfortunately this story doesn't work that way and as much as it kills me to torture my characters so, this is how it is. I'm sorry, I'm a writer and I go where my characters lead me, and this is where I've gone. I promise that after this chapter there is definitely nothing else this strongly sexual, although there still is a bit of violence.

So, read at will, but I did warn you. (For those who don't wish to read I will post a breif explanation of what happens at the beginning of the next chapter, or if you want an indepth overveiw don't resitate to ask in a review)

The Balance in Love, Lies and War

Chapter 18:

'Ending the silly Dream'

She had always thought she'd end up giving it to him someday. It's a foolish dream every love struck girl experiences, especially when one is so naïve. Kaida was naïve. Before Raimundo, her experience to men limited to Chase's violent yet heartfelt advances and the whirlwind romance she had shared with her ideal boyfriend in her mind (Of course based off the sappiest love stories in all the shojo manga her and Kimiko had giggled at in their early teens).

So she may have had a whimsical image in the back of her mind that, one day, her and Raimundo would be close enough for her to give him the most precious of gifts.

But she had never imagined it like this. She had plenty of time to think on this, he was taking his time, enjoying her broken body with sinister glee, with a ferocious intensity.

Kaida couldn't stop the tears anymore; although she didn't want to believe it, it was all real.

They had been doing so well, what had changed? What could've gone so horribly wrong…? The poor girl could think of nothing, her mind blank with shock.

She had died betrayed, been revived broken and now, to top it all off, she was being violated during her fragile recovery. It just didn't seem very fair.

Atalante said nothing. She didn't make a single sound. Silent.

"Raimundo Pedrosa. You were brought to this temple to become the Dragon of the Wind. You were brought here to become a warrior of justice, a protector." Master Fung looked coldly at the teenager. The teenager looked cockily back. "Do you understand this?"

After the warriors had returned, Master Fung had sent Clay with Kaida to the hospital wing, looking straight through Omi and dragging Raimundo into one of his meditation chambers. The incense was heavy and powerful. There was a slight tension in the air. The boy shrugged.

"Sure." Master Fung stepped around him solemnly, his icy blue-grey eyes never leaving the teenager. Raimundo leaned back, a smirk hiding in the corners of his mouth.

"Then you understand what your role must be in the weeks to come." Raimundo stood up to face the Monk, the incense smoke drifting lazily between them. A contempt filled gash appeared where his mouth had once been, as the teenager swung his fist back, building momentum, only to catapult it forward, smashing into Master Fung's face. The blow sent him flying, crashing into the wall. The smoke suddenly whirled around the boy whose murky, lightness eyes stabbed deep into Master Fung's heart.

"Shut it Old man." Master Fung's eyes blurred as he felt the boy pick him up by the scruff of his silk shirt, weightless, powerless. Raimundo's eyes radiated malice, a dark wind kicking up around them, smoke spiralling like a black abyss. "There's been a few changes to the rules, Fungster." He laughed a little as Master Fung's eyes widened, a trickle of blood seeping slowly down his crinkled brow. His tired stomach suddenly felt more like a pit of despair. "Tonight I'm going to do whatever I want, and you can't do anything to stop me."

The boy drew his fist back again and Master Fung felt no pain as he started to drown in darkness. Although he tried to still his racing heart, the ordinarily calm Master could not help but fear that the last thing he would see before being swallowed whole by the black shadows of death, would be that arrogant, contempt-filled and malicious smirk.

"She… She will be alright… right?" Kimiko looked up. Jack's eyes were red and he stared at the floor, his hands shaking. His voice was no more then a strained whisper. Clay's eyes were focussed on the unconscious patient, his own concern hanging over him like a dark cloud. The monk in charge of the hospital wing had assured them she would be fine after some rest, but it wasn't her injuries that worried them.

"We'll protect her." Clay said quietly. Although his voice was barely a decibel louder than Jack's, his resounded with power and determination. The Earth bristled deep within him.

'Careful, deep waters we but only tread. Be a pool of deceit and treachery now Raimundo be gone.' Clay couldn't help but agree, but for the sake of his worried friends he did not voice his concerns.

Clay may not have been the smartest or most creative of the Xiaolin Warriors (although no one could think up a Texan-themed simile like he could) but what had not been revealed too much before was his utter strength. His muscles may have appeared to be his strongest aspect, but in reality it was his brave soul, his will and his determination that resounded the loudest. No one would stand in his way of supporting his friends; he would be their rock, their safety.

He may not have known Kaida for very long and maybe the bond between them was shaky and crumbling faintly at the edges, but that did not change the fact that a bond had been forged. And he would protect that with all of his earthly might.

Clay knew that all of his predecessors had suffered while protecting those they had cared for. He knew that this road was long and dangerous. And he knew that if he did nothing, things would be even worse.

So, with all of his strength, Clay lifted his head and gathered Kimiko and Jack into his strong arms as they shed silent tears as they feared the future. Although his knees trembled under the weight of their sorrows, their circumstances, their futures, Clay held steadfast; strong, like the rock he had promised to be.

Omi's head hung in his hands. He was sat on his mat, which was cold, his bare feet shivering. His tears had dried up. His eyes were sore.

Master Fung had been like a father, even more; he had been his teacher, his friend, his guardian and his father. And yet, he had looked straight through him, his eyes cold, expressionless. Omi's little heart clenched in pain. How it hurt he could not describe, the words drying up on his tongue like saliva. Silence was all that befitted this emotion, the cold, and heavy and repressive silence.

Omi had sinned and so this was his punishment, it was only fair. He knew only too well that to sin was also to be reprimanded later. And yet… this seemed so…

He had made a mistake. It was the largest he had ever made, but it was still a mistake nonetheless. Surely they could forgive him; surely even Kaida could forgive him. She had once held him tightly and called him her friend and friends forgive each other. He had nothing to worry about. His little heart clenched tightly again. There was a sneer from deep inside of him, an angry voice that bubbled with contempt.

'You better hope so, traitor.' Omi hung his head lower, the Water seething at his own inability to change the fates of those he cared for.

Although the Water's mighty pride would not let him utter such nonsense, there was nothing more he'd like to say than 'sorry' to all those who he had let down. But he was the being of Water! Without him all life would cease, he was the spine that supported this silly human world and he was branded with failure after failure. Because he was so proud he believed he was the strongest of all the spirits, and this arrogant pride caused him to be the most disliked, which only fuelled a streaming swirl of wrath.

He may have had little part in the events that had led to this moment in time, but when it was his turn to come to the stage and show off this mighty pride, which he held so dear, there was not a moment the Water wasted. However, the imbalance between his ego and his time in the spotlight boiled his pride with white flashes of anger; these emotions blinded him and he acted as such, causing horror after horror.

He knew this. He regretted every second of it. And yet, he could never bring himself to apologise, too great and mighty his vain pride.

Too proud to offer words of comfort or ask for assistance, the Water spirit neglected to notice that although he had wanted to change so badly, he had not. He was the same dragon who had betrayed Atalante so many years ago, all over his tarnished pride. He was still the same Water who had told Zephyros exactly where his lover had been. He was still the same spirit who had helped break the fate that Akakios Democritus had carefully planned for his perfect world.

"They are breaking already, the show hasn't even begun to start yet…" Athanasius smiled to himself, sipping elegantly from his glass of dark red wine. He inhaled the luxurious scent deeply, licking his lips; he couldn't help himself, he was just inexplicably attracted to beautiful things and the taste of the liquid, as it slid down his mouth, his throat, was so irresistibly mouth-watering. He felt himself sigh in pleasure. The Demon King wallowed in his glory, like a God starring down on his world, revelling in the fate he had created.

Chase sat behind him, sulking. The demon king had taken off his silhouette, and his face was not something the half demon wished to see. It brought powerful emotions from deep inside of him, like memories without the images. That face brought him fear and pain. Athanasius just chuckled at him.

He loved beautiful things, powerful things too. Especially ones tainted by darkness. Athanasius felt his lips curve sadistically into a smile as he remembered discovering Chase and his potential for beauty and power. His head twisted a little, blood red eyes focussing on Chase's face. He could still feel it now, his desire for that beauty, that power; it would be so easy to take what he wanted from the half-demon, enjoy every inch of his beauty. But he settled back into his seat, calming his desires.

There was once a time when he would set his ravenous appetite for beauty onto anything that electrified his blood, but now he resisted. If he wanted his fate, his plans to succeed then he would wait for the most beautiful of all to arrive and unleash all of his lust and hunger. Athanasius smiled, sipping from his glass, watching the warriors wallow in misery, feeling elated.

In six years time he would taste the greatest of all beauties; she would fall under the curse of his desire and he would finally take what he wanted from her. His shadows, having already infiltrated her defences before would take over her completely; she would become a slave to their seductive disaster, she would surrender herself completely to his black soul. He licked his lips, his blood pulsing in excitement.

Soon Kaida… Soon…

"You should wake up now child." Kaida twisted her head away from the voice.

"Don't wanna." She felt herself pouting, curling up tightly into a ball and pulling the covers further over her head.

"Don't you want to say goodbye?" The voice was soft, yet sad. It seemed so familiar that Kaida threw off the covers, her eyes starring around her.

"Mummy…?" Suddenly she was crying, bawling like an infant, feeling so empty and lonely her tiny heart could barely take it. A little confused, Kaida stepped back; with a shock of horror, she realised what scene was playing before her. A five-year-old Kaida Balance was crying, a sad yet gentle mother comforting her.

Kaida was dreaming. And she knew this dream.

Her mother held her hand out towards the tiny Kaida, smiling ever so meekly.

"Come with me child, it'll be alright." The child nodded, getting up to leave and Kaida struggled, screaming at her to stop, to hide under the covers, to stay away from that fiend; but the child did not hear her and got up anyway. Within an instant everything changed. The tiny Kaida began to grow slowly, until she hit about eleven, her mother's eyes turning red as she led her into darkness. The forges appeared around them, red and orange sparks spitting and hissing at her, their mouths hot and hungry. In the middle stood a man, who seemed so familiar, but instead of having soft brown eyes and blonde-brown hair, his hair was black and green and his eyes were amber, the pupils pointed like a demon's.

"You have such a wonderful voice Princess…" He grinned, his eyes manic and before Kaida could run, irons clamped themselves around her ankles, stopping her escape. His teeth glinted as they gnashed together, "lets hear it scream!" The back of her shirt ripped open and before she could even cry out, a white-hot piece of metal was scraping into her skin.

Tearing away the muscle, her blood sizzling as the wounds cauterised as he dragged the blade down her back; the pain shot into her eyeballs, her mouth open in a devastating scream. Her fingers jarred as her body arched, the weapon crushing down her spine, the nerves alive with pain; such agony had never even been imaginable to her and now the pain invaded every atom in her body, tearing at her soul.

"Can you feel the pain yet little girl?" The monster paused briefly, taking a swig of something, pulling her closer tipping the liquid down her throat as well. The bitterness made her eyes water, her throat burning as she coughed; it was some kind of Vodka, perhaps to ease her pain just a little. As she coughed, her insides burning from the alcohol, his mouth slid down her neck and back, tongue flitting out to catch any beads of blood that had escaped the burning metal.

"You look so beautiful..." He whispered, his hands wrapping around her, grabbing her chest as his hot mouth nestled against her ear. He sounded almost sad but that mattered little to Kaida as his hands found a smaller piece of metal and sank it into the sensitive skin covering her shoulders.

Her throat burned with every cry. She could barely even breathe. Drowning in her pain, she barely noticed the sparkle of his tears sizzling in her cauterised flesh. Her own tears could not escape her eyes. He finished with her arms quickly enough, holding her quivering, burning, bleeding hands for a mere moment of pity as he twisted her face towards him, kissing her cheek softly. He slid the metal down the side of her face, the metal starting to agonisingly cool, the cauterisation easing, the pain subsiding quicker, the blood flowing faster. As if sensing this relief he pulled her closer again with shaking hands.

"This won't hurt a bit…" His fingers caressed the new scar ever so gently and black energy rushed from his fingertips into the bleeding mess. It sizzled and burned as it claimed her skin, infecting her muscles with torturous pain her body could no longer handle. But when her eyes were about to slide out of focus, her mind into darkness, he touched her back just as gently and the massive, infecting pain filled her every nerve, forcing her eyes open, forcing her voice into a scream. It invaded her body, tainting every cell, infecting every organ; the pain was like lightening crackling through her entire body.

As he touched her arms one after another, her screams primal and full of agony, a shaky laugh choked out of his throat. "I lied."

Trapped in the dream, Kaida could only scream. Her scars blazed with sadistic glory, feeding off her pain and agony. Her only consolation was that it could always get worse.

And in all fairness, that isn't much of a consolation at all.

"Raimundo is missing." A monk whispered in Clay's ear. Sparks of fear shot through his back and his grip on his friends tightened.

"Are you sure?" He whispered back. The monk nodded, explaining what had happened with Master Fung. Clay felt his stomach sink. What could he possibly do to protect them? If Master Fung couldn't stand up to him, what chance did he have? He couldn't think about it, it was too depressing. There was nothing he could do. But then the Earth suggested something he would never have thought of.

'Run, if you be desperate. Run someplace safe, run away, far from demon boy.'

But even as he thought of whisking them all off somewhere safe, waiting for this whole mess to blow over, he didn't even think of the terrible position he was in right now. To put it simply, they were all sitting ducks and Raimundo was far too close for comfort and far too impatient for his own good.

Omi was in a bit of a gherkin. Or at least, that's what he thought. He was actually in a fairly spacious broom cupboard, the Water his only company, rope biting into his wrists. He was gagged as well so that certainly didn't help matters. He was also a little scared.

The Water was cursing away, half distressed, half enraged, splashing around stormily in Omi's mind. He seemed to find it disgraceful that they were caught so easily. Omi wasn't even sure what had hit him (although it felt far too much like a brick to be a coincidence) and didn't know whom either. Although there was only one person the little Water Warrior knew who would be hitting people with bricks right now. Raimundo.

But even that seemed a little ridiculous; why on Earth would Raimundo want him tied up and gagged in a cupboard? Omi suddenly felt a little sick. Before he could contemplate that too far though Kimiko interrupted, unwillingly of course. Bound, gagged and struggling as hard as one would expect, Kimiko was also thrown in, the door open for a split second, the light shut out in an instant.

Now it seemed they were both in a gherkin.

Flaring, Kimiko struggled against her bonds aimlessly for a few seconds until her icy eyes rested on Omi. Her pupils froze. Suddenly, in a blaze of fury, fire spread over her body, the ropes instantly consumed by the fire. Tearing off her gag viciously she stormed over, sparks flying out.

"You! It's a good thing you're not out there working with Raimundo! Little bastard, what are you two doing!" Her rage seemed inconsolable and even as Omi shook his head as wildly as he could, Kimiko seemed to not notice. Her hands found him in the darkness, fire lighting her way and she picked him up, tears of rage falling down her face. "You killed her! And now he's trying to do something even worse! Is that what you wanted!" He shook his head, terrified, black eyes wide and Kimiko responded with more passion than he had ever seen before, "The get us out of here and save her! If I forgive you then get us out of here! Save her Omi!" And with that fire consumed his bonds and she ripped off the gag for him. For a second there was a silence, the crackle of her fire doused by a little of his water. Then they stood together, Fire and Water, forgiven and forgotten.

"Kaida." Raimundo's voice appeared in her head. How strange, he was never in her dreams. Maybe she wasn't dreaming. The tired girl tried to open her eyes but the effort was too much so instead she made a grumble in her throat. There was a chuckle. "Kaida, wake up." I'm trying, she thought tiredly, making an effort to open her heavy eyelids. There was a sudden flutter at her side, filling her with an almost nice feeling.

She jolted upright. Raimundo was sat beside her, far too close, his fingers brushing against her bandaged side. She tried to sidle further away, but not only were her muscles too sore to move, his other arm barred her escape. Kaida blushed, the Zen breathing heavily.

"Rai-Raimundo?" He smiled; it was a beautiful smile, too beautiful. She tried to smile back but she was afraid for some reason. Why were they all alone in the hospital wing? Why was everything so quiet? Why was he… getting so close? As if to scare her more he leaned down that little bit further, happy tears collecting in the corners of his eyes.

"I was so worried! I thought I'd lost you!" His free hand tried to reach for her face but she pulled away as quickly as she could, jarring her neck in the process. As she cried out in pain, his face reached that little bit closer. "What are you afraid of Kaida? I won't hurt you, I'd never hurt you." She looked up at him with her grey eyes full of fear.

She was being silly really; of course Raimundo would never hurt her. She half smiled. The Zen hid her head behind her hands.

"Where is… everyone else?" She whispered her throat still a little hoarse. Gleaming, his eyes told no lies.

"They're just a little tied up right now, I'm sure you'll see them soon." Somehow, she didn't feel relieved.

"Could… could you get Kimiko, I want to see her…" Her voice started to falter as he leaned in closer yet again.

"And what's wrong with me?" He kissed her cheek softly, her fringe falling away a little. She tried to fix its position but Raimundo's hands were pinning her down. Racing suddenly, her heart skipped a beat in fear.

"N-nothing's wrong, I-I just want to..." Again, her voice faltered as he leaned in for the kill, she tried to move away again, but her neck jarred, the boy catching the corner of her mouth.

"Reluctant aren't we?" Slithering, slimy snake; that's what he suddenly sounded like and before Kaida could even move one of his legs slyly swung over her, his hands taking hold of her waist.

"What are you doing!" Kaida cried, blushing furiously. Her frail arms tried to push him off but her weak muscles were no match against his well rested ones.

"Don't you want me Kaida? Don't you need me? Don't you want me beside you?" His eyes glinted with the depth of what he meant and Kaida could only blush in response.

"R-Raimundo, don't… I…" He laughed and she cringed as he kissed her cheek again, this time his mouth sliding closer to her ear.

The weak Kaida faltered and tried to shy away but a sudden rush of anger filled her to the brim, bringing out a darker side; she head butted him violently and he reeled back, clutching his nose, blood trickling through his fingers. Her eyes were glazed with anger, her lips parted as she panted with the effort, every muscle straining, her whole body shouting one thing at him. Because he seemed a little confused about it Kaida found the strength to put it into words.

"No man will ever touch me without my permission." Her voice was dark and angry, the cold apathy replaced with an anger that was lacking in compassion and pity. Raimundo simply laughed.

"Who do you think you are Kaida Balance? A queen? A geisha of the highest respects? No, you're nothing. And you're mine." She opened her mouth to spew out her darkest of insults, throw him off with anger and malice but the demon-boy took it as a chance to shut her up.

Their kiss was like nothing Kaida had ever felt before. The disgusting slime of his tongue pushing it's way into her mouth, the force of his lips against her, his body so close it hurt; Kaida could barely breathe from want of retching. As he pulled away he gave her no chance of recovering, stealing her body into his arms, her muscles screaming in protest, his hands clawing at her bandaged back.

"Kaida Balance…" his voice was hushed, a hiss in her ear. "I'm going to take you because you belong to me, and your only use in this world is to become mine…" He paused, tightening his grip on her shaking body. "And when I've taken you, you shall remain mine forever." His nails impaled themselves into her broken skin, blood splashing down her back as it splashed down her front from his leaking nose, and he gathered up her night gown in an instant, exposing her frail body to his snake-green, lecherous eyes. Before she could do anything other than cry out in pain, he brought her so close she could feel his thumping heart, thrust her legs wide apart and started the worst night of her life.

He must've enjoyed her. He bit into her neck, drawing blood, laughing as she cried. The tears wouldn't even stop and that made him laugh even more. Kaida tried to fight back, scratching at his arms, his face, his chest, trying to stop him desperately, but he took this as an invitation to scratch her in retaliation; his free hand clawing down her spine, ripping bandages, flesh and scars, making her scream in pain. Without meaning to, her back arched closer to him; shoulders shaking and she cried ever more tears as the hand on her hip pulled him deeper and deeper…

She had never felt so violated, so used. Even the terrible events that haunted her from four years ago were nothing compared to this. It was not just the fact she was being raped but that he was taking such pleasure in abusing her body, such delight in her screams of pain, laughing so cruelly as he licked her salty tears. His hands tore at her skin, mouth molesting her neck and ears, hips never ceasing that painful, thrusting rhythm; slowly stealing such a precious thing.

Wasn't her first time supposed to be romantic and filled with destiny? Wasn't it supposed to be scary but at the same time gentle and soft? Surely, if it had been her destiny to give herself to Raimundo, it wouldn't have been like this! The cheery, cheeky smile, which had once filled his mouth, haunted her memories as he ignored her cries. The sweet, caring way he had always looked out for her remained firm in her mind as his hands clawed at her chest. His lovely laugh, his arrogant walk, his stupid floppy hair; where was her Raimundo in this monster!

Why would her Raimundo ever want this?

She had always thought she'd end up giving it to him someday. It's a foolish dream every love struck girl experiences, especially when one is so naïve. Kaida was naïve.

Although it was over, he didn't leave. He just let her slump to the floor, zipping up his jeans. He looked pleased with himself. Kaida didn't notice. Unblinking, she stared into the nothingness that suddenly seemed to fill her being. He nudged her with his foot, catching one of her broken ribs. She didn't groan in pain.

"I've taken all you had to offer. I doubt I'll come back for more, you're not really worth my time." He started to walk away but a sharp cry stopped him.

"What!" He turned back slowly, that snaky, slimy smirk sitting arrogantly on his lips. Kaida was sat up, streaks of tears blanched into her face. "What did you say!" He didn't even bother stepping back.

"Your only purpose was to be mine. But you're not even worth that. You're worthless." She fell to the floor in a heap, his words acting as her final blow. He didn't even turn at her sobs. Raimundo left the hospital wing without another word.

"You are… worthless…" She whispered to herself, crawling towards the window. Rain poured down from the heavens, lightening crackling in the sky and it all seemed so bleak and dark that as Kaida clutched her shoulders and sobbed even harder, starring into that terrible, woeful abyss; she wondered if there was even a point in continuing.

Athanasius was also watching the rain. He listened to the thunder. Distantly he heard Chase sob out his little broken heart, so mortified at the terrible events that seemed to keep happening to the one person he wished to bring only happiness. The Demon King leant back, satisfied.

He had thought the last Raimundo had been good at his part but this one had played the role magnificently. Never had he seen someone broken so viciously, so thoroughly, so easily. Now only time would tell what would happen next.

"Kaida Balance the 1st gave up, but what will you do, Kaida the 2nd?"

A/N: For some reason it won't Align left so please ignore that...

Ok, so sue me, I make Raiumdo evil, it's not my fault! Blame Athanasius for being a little bastard! (And this is set after season 1 in which Raimundo had been vaugely malicious... So I'm grasping a straws, it's called artistic license!)
Not that this really matters, hardly anyone will read this chapter ^^; I swear it was not this violent originally, my writing just escapes me sometimes...

This is the turning point in the story, things are gonna change after this, but stick with me, it's always darkest before the dawn! ;)

And to all my reviewers, thank you, haha, you motivate in the worst possible way, don't ever stop!

Well, read, review and try to enjoy such a depressing chapter ha ha!