The First Warning

Raimundo's POV

The next morning, it was a little awkward between Kimiko and I as we sat in the dining room area with everyone in silence. She didn't make any eye contact with me and would eat and drink silently. I felt a little guilty about yesterday, since I may have flipped out. I mean she flipped out too, but I get she was just trying to catch up with me. The truth was I just wasn't ready to tell her or anyone yet of what happened to me after my mother's death. I became someone I swore, I'd never be. In the end though through my anger, hate, and grief I began to change slowly. I can never take back what I've done, but I learned I can change into being a better person then before and become a man.

That's my reasoning as well as to coming back. I wanted to go back not just because of the vision I saw, but because that's where my friends were. I glanced over to Kimiko as she made small talk with Omi and Clay. I gave a small smile and then tuned in to what they were talking about.

"Have you all made a decision on whether to stay or not?" Omi asked and we all shared glances, and Clay spoke first.

"I've decided to stay . . . but only till I know that this vision may or may not happen. If it does happen I will stay until it is over. If it doesn't happen . . . Well I've got to get back to my ranch and Anabelle." Clay said surprising all of us.

"Anabelle?" I questioned.

"Is this the girl you mention before? The one you said she could be the one?" Kimiko asked and he only grinned as she smiled at him and congratulated him.

"And you Raimundo?" Omi asked and all eyes were on me.

I thought long and hard these past two weeks on my decision and I've come to a conclusion.

"I'll stay just as long as you need me . . . After that, I have to get home to my brothers and sister and take care of them, back in Brazil. I'm sorry, but I can't stay forever like I'd like to . . ." I spoke and I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Clay giving a small smile.

"We're in the same boat partner," Clay replied and I nodded my head.

"All that's left is you know Kimiko." Omi stated and all eyes were on her.

She glanced at me, but quickly looked away and then took a sip of her drink. We sat for a moment in silence waiting for her answer, until she spoke.

"I've decided to stay here . . . and live with Omi and everyone else in the Temple, if I'm allowed." She smiled to Omi who jumped with happiness and went over to hug her as she hugged him back.

"Of course my friend! It will be nice to have someone other than Dojo to talk to around here!" He exclaimed and she laughed a little.

"What about Tokyo? Last I heard you and your pop were running his company together. Won't you be taking over it someday?" Clay asked.

"Papa already has someone in case I don't want to run the company to take over him. In fact he's the one that told me, that I should come back here and be with my friends even before I had that vision." She explained and we all nodded her heads, but then she continued.

"Besides, there's nothing left for me in Tokyo . . . not anymore . . ." She spoke and before I could ask what she meant Dojo came in.

"Kimiko, Master Fung is ready to see you now for your training." Dojo spoke.

She got up from her chair grabbed her dishes and placed them in the sink and then excused herself from the table and began to speak, until surprisingly Omi spoke up.

"I do not want to be noisy in your business, but what exactly are you training with Master Fung?" Omi questioned I watched her expression change a little, but then she quickly replaced it with a fake smile.

"I think you meant "nosey" and as far as my training with Master Fung, it's nothing super special. In fact it's more of a mediating secession as I need to clear my mind of some things." She explained.

"What things?" I asked and she then turned to me and looked straight into my eyes and looked a little annoyed, but only a little.

"Nothing you need to know that is of importance. Now if you'll excuse me." She said and left the room in a hurry.

"Is it just me or are you two having a fight?" Clay asked and I just groaned a little.

"What is ever the matter Raimundo?" Omi questioned and I sighed and slumped in my chair.

"I may have gotten into an argument with Kimiko yesterday, over something stupid . . ." I answered.

"Well what on earth was it about partner?" Clay asked.

"Let's just say that these past three years have changed Kim and I . . . I think we both have secrets that we are not ready to reveal yet from these past three years . . . After my mother's death, I did some things I'm not proud of and changed in the worst way . . . As for Kim, I have no idea what she's hiding but whatever it is I just hope it's nothing as bad as mine . . ." I explained.

For a while, they said nothing as we sat in silence. I still was not ready to reveal my secrets, but if they asked I would tell them. If they are my true friends, I can only hope they understand. As for Kim, if I were to tell her of what happened to me . . . She would probably hate me and never forgive me.

"Raimundo as your friend, I would like to know what has happened to you during those three years as it concerns me." Omi spoke and I sighed ready to talk, until he talked again.

"However, I can wait until you are ready to share." Omi said giving a sincere smile to me.

"Same here partner," Clay spoke.

I looked to my friends and smiled and nodded to them. They really were my true friends that I could rely on. They understood me, just like they have in the past. Now all that was left was to make amends with Kimiko, which I knew wasn't going to be easy. I decided to go visit her and Master Fung and see if I could talk to her. Of course, when I got there I saw the meditation room door closed . . . or so I thought. I suddenly began to hear a soft yet loud enough to hear scream. I quickly ran to the door and looked through the creaked door and saw Master Fung and Kimiko.

I saw Kimiko breathing heavily and was covered in sweat it looked like. She was on the ground on all fours and was shaking in fear. I saw Master Fung help her up slowly and then sit her back down on the floor and began to speak.

"You cannot let fear control you Kimiko. You must-." Master Fung spoke.

"I know focus and clear my thoughts! I get it, but every time I try that image still keeps playing in my mind! It's not going to ever stop . . .! I just have to come to the fact that, no matter what I can't forget what happened to me back then . . . It's because of what happened that changed me, that made me this way and I fear I may never ever be the same as I once was anymore!" She exclaimed with watery eyes.

"With patience, practice, and time everything will be fine young monk. You just need to believe in yourself more, just like your friends believe in you. This path you must take, you must take alone in order for you to find what you've lost. However, never forget that you are never alone so long as you have your friends by your side."

As she was going to say something a loud explosion went off and they quickly stood up. I got away from the door and immediately ran to the source of the explosion. I went outside the court yard and saw no one in site. Suddenly I saw Clay thrown across the wall that left a nasty crack on the wall.

"Clay! I shouted running toward him, until I saw Omi flying at me and hitting me to the ground.

I got up slowly from the ground and soon Clay and Omi got up to. Then as I looked up in front of my eyes was like a blast from the past.

"Chase," I spoke and he grinned.

"Let's not also forget me boys," A voice said appearing out of the shadows.

"Wuya," Clay spoke as she grinned.

"It's nice to see you again boys, but aren't you missing that little tramp of yours?" Wuya spoke.

"Nice to see you again too Wuya and might I saw how age really doesn't become you." Kimiko said walking over to us from the Temple.

I watched as Wuya glared at her now as Kimiko stood beside us. I looked over to Chase who still had that grin on his face. In truth they looked exactly the same as the last time we saw them, only now them see more confident, which was something I didn't like.

"So what brings you here Chase Young!?" Omi demanded and he gave a small laugh.

"I heard you all came back in to the Temple and I had to see it for myself." He spoke.

"Well here we are and this time we're not going anywhere." I declared.

"For now, but who's to say that something unpredictable might happen." Wuya said.

"What in the sam hill do you mean Wuya?" Clay questioned as they both grinned.

"Why don't we have our new friend explain things a little more clearly to you stupid monks." Wuya said and gestured for someone to come out.

Out from the shadows came another blast from the past as my eyes were now wide open in shock. I took a few step forwards and I still couldn't believe my eyes. I watched as he grinned to me and walked forward and spoke.

"Well well, if isn't my old friend Raimundo. So nice to see you again amigo." He greeted.

"What the hell are you doing here Marcel!?" I demanded as he grinned and walked over toward me.

"Can't a friend visit a friend? Oh wait, I've forgotten . . . you and I aren't friends anymore since they day you betrayed me." Marcel growled.

"I didn't betray you,"

"Don't you dare lie to me or to your so called friends! You and I both know who the really Raimundo is inside . . .! A filthy lying bastard who would betray your own friend . . .!"

"Rai you know this guy?" Kimiko questioned.

Once she spoke his gaze fell to her and I could see a grin on his face. He walked over to her slowly and I watched as she backed up away from him a little, until they were face to face. Suddenly he placed his hand under her chin and pulled her closer to him. I quickly moved toward them, but was quickly stopped by Wuya's green fire ball hitting the ground at my feet. I looked over to them and saw Kimiko glare at him as he continued to grin.

"So you must be the Dragon of Fire, that I have heard so much about from Raimundo." He spoke and then glancing at me as I glared at him.

"You're a lot prettier in person, then I thought you'd be." He spoke and she quickly slapped his hand away as he laughed.

"Feisty . . . I like it." He grinned as she glared at him.

"Don't touch me ever again if you value your hand from being severely burned!" She shouted and he laughed even more.

He walked up to her again and this time actually pulling her arm toward him and closer to him. I watched as he began to whisper something into her ear that I couldn't hear, but I watched as her eyes went wide with fear.

Kimiko's POV

"You're don't fool me girl . . . I know all about your dirty little secret . . ." Marcel whispered into my ear making my eyes go wide.

"But don't worry, your secret's safe with me . . . for now that is." He said and then pulled away from me and I snatched my arm away from him as he grinned.

"Just like you and Raimundo, I've got lots of secrets. Would you like to see?" He asked us.

Suddenly I saw black smoke coming out from his hands and I started to take a step back as I watched the black smoke gather around me and my friends. Soon monsters began to take form of the shadow and began to attack. Lucky my fighting skills are still with me as I began to strike back as my friends used there elements. I grabbed one of the training sticks nearby and began to attack the monsters. Soon with each hit, they would vanish if you strike them in the right place.

"There shadow monster!" Omi exclaimed.

"So they're not real then . . . good." I spoke and began to attack some more.

Soon though I watched as Chase, Wuya, and Marcel all watch with grinning faces. Soon I notice Chase look over to me and grinned. I didn't like it . . . Suddenly I felt someone grab my arm and throw me back against the wall. I quickly got up before the monster could strike again and was able to dodge it. However, soon another monster was able to pick me up by the collar of my shirt.

"Kimiko!" I heard Raimundo shout.

"Damn!" I exclaimed as I couldn't escape the beast grasp.

I watched as my friends were preoccupied at the moment with the other shadow monsters and could not help me. I struggled to break free, but it was no use.

"Kimiko what are you doing!? Use your powers!" Raimundo yelled.

Suddenly the monster began to start choking me and I could barely breathe now. I tried to get him to loosen his grip, but nothing worked. I was useless just as I thought without my powers. Suddenly though I saw Raimundo kick the monsters hand releasing me and Raimundo quickly catching me with his wind powers and setting me down. I began to cough a lot gasping for air and I could feel Raimundo's hand on my back for comfort and I could hear Wuya laugh a little as she walked toward us.

"Let this be a warning that now that you are back, war is about to take place. Soon the Heylin side will rise again. You have no idea how powerful we've become these past three years. I mean look at yourself and how weak you've all become . . . it's pathetic." Wuya grinned.

"I have no idea what your planning Chase, but as Leader I vow that we will stop you no matter the cost." Raimundo vowed and he grinned as Marcel laughed.

"Don't ever promise something that you can't keep Raimundo. There is no hope for you as your true enemy is closer than you think." Marcel explained.

"We shall take leave, as we have done enough damage for today." Chase said.

I watched as Marcel's hands began to spread black smoke again and I began to feel dizzy, but as soon as the black smoke faded, the dizziness went away and they were all gone . . .