A/N: Seriously guys? That many reviews in the span of only like three days? Boy you really want an update huh? But now, a word of thanks for the people who made this update possible:
Scarlet-Sama: How did you frickin know?! I'm being spied on!
Guest (Breezy): Hmmm it was actually part of my plot but I'm still deciding whether or not to put it because if I did place it in there… then they could have easily won and the story would be boring~ But thanks for the thoughts and it will be duly noted!
Guest (RelievedReviewer): Dayum! Really? Really really really?! Ermigerd that is the nicest thing anyone had said about my writing prowess hahaha! I promise you, I shall flood ff with a whole lot of RaiKim stories if I managed to write them all up!
VanillaStratos: Hahaha it was originally supposed to take place in a volcano but then I thought, 'Bitch that's too cliché! What's next? Clay's gonna be in the Sahara desert?' So it's a good thing you guys loved the caves. I was inspired when I saw pictures of the Ice Caves in Russia.
Guest (jada1001) : Your wish has been granted!
AssassinDevil: Uhm… that is so wrong in oh so many levels. 1000 out of 10 of the major WTF?! Scale but hey, we all think of random things sometimes. Let us never dwell on that again since it's a very delicate subject matter, or maybe because I'm being such a girl.
Guest (Anon): No, YOU are awesome for leaving a review!
Alright bros, get ready coz here we go! (I sounded like pewdiepie for a second there… hahaha any bros out there? Anyway, BROFIST!)
More reviews, faster updates!
Disclaimer: I don't own the original characters and Shen Gong Wus. Except for the totally awesome masters and made up Wus along with the plot line.
Counterbalance
Chapter III
For Omi, it was the easiest showdown in the history. As soon as it started, it ended within three minutes with Jack pleading for mercy while crying "Uncle! Uncle!" simultaneously. Wuya had to cover her face from embarrassment because whenever Jack tried to stand, Omi would force him back to the ground again. But apart from his sore butt that came from falling to the ground numerous times and a battered beyond recognition ego, he came out pretty much unscathed.
Dojo cheered on as Omi walked towards the dragon with two additional Shen Gong Wus on hand. Omi smiled happily at his victory but a familiar chi had his eyes scour the area. Then, he appeared. Out of the shadows, there stood the former xiaolin monk and now their greatest threat, Chase Young. The evil incarnate dressed in his armor and his reptilian eyes shone as he looked down at Omi with his hands on his side.
"I must say, I never thought Spicer could be any lower than he originally was. You may have added another Shen Gong Wu to your possession but it in the end, it will all lead up to nothing" His voice was tranquil but underneath that calm facade was a devastating storm waiting for the right moment to be unleashed. His long hair shone in a greenish black tint under the light of the sun and his lips graced a cruel smirk that made Omi keep his guard up.
"The final battle looms closer as a day passes young dragon. Last chance Omi; Join me, join the Heylin side and taste real power and victory will surely be ours" his face was dead serious even with the smile and held up his hand as an offer of a deal.
Omi looked at Chase for a fraction of a moment before he looked away and said, "No thank you."
Chase's proffered hand was clenched into a fist but his smirk did not deter. He was expecting that answer and swept his eyes upon the general area of their conversation.
"I wonder... where your friends are," his tone was hauntingly calm as if he was egging Omi to answer. He gracefully swooped down to the ground without any sound like a hawk locking down its prey and began to walk around Omi with his hands locked on his back. Dojo immediately hid under Omi's robe while he himself kept his hands up in a defensive pose.
"Well, well it seems that you all have gone to seek the Shen Gong Wu. I never would have imagined that you four will be separated just to cover more grounds. But all of this will be of no avail even if you get some extra help with your crutches."
There was no dishonest bone in Omi's body and he struggled to correct Chase's assumption but a sudden tug of skin from the hiding dragon in his robe made him look down and saw Dojo make a zipping motion on his mouth. Omi nodded and looked at the warrior with a blank look.
"We will defeat you Chase Young! After we collect all the Shen Gong Wu which we are currently on right this very moment, the Heylin side will submit to a most humiliating defeat!" his convictions were strong but his monotonous tone was a chink in his armor.
'Honestly. This boy can't lie to save his life' he mused in his mind. With his back turned on his counterpart, Chase began to walk away when Omi suddenly blurted out,
"Must you really fight against us?"
Omi slapped a hand firmly against his mouth after the words flew from his mouth. He didn't want to ask that but the need to hear an answer from the 1500 year old man overpowered his rationality. He expected the man to scoff and even question his sanity or maybe even take it as a form of deal between them. He didn't expect Chase to freeze and remain silent for a minute or so before regained his ability to move again. His answer was cold and biting, "It is the destiny we must all face. Be prepared Omi, because this is a war you monks will ultimately lose."
Under the shadows of the ruins, Chase vanished without so much as a trace that he was there at all. Dojo climbed out of his robe and settled on top of his head, "What was that all about?"
Omi narrowed his eyes at the shadows where Chase disappeared to. He hoped that slight pause Chase displayed was a moment of hesitation rather than restraint. He had known the real Chase Young and a bond formed between them was almost like the brotherly ones he had with Raimundo and Clay. But if Chase proved to be as evil as he claims to be; then Omi will do whatever it takes to stop him.
"Let's go back home Dojo" he said.
"Man, this sure is tough!" Clay muttered to himself as he slowly lowered himself in a natural hot spring. Master Li's training consisted of push ups, squats and lifts. The exercises made to build up his upper body strength more.
Clay released a relieved breath as he felt the knots on his muscles unwind and the soreness at his back began to ebb away. He looked up and saw the stars peek from the sky with no idea where they were but he could pretty much tell they're in the middle of nowhere with mountains that surrounded them. He expected a barren wasteland where the sand was the only think he can see and tumbleweed here and there but he was mesmerized by the beauty of nature.
He almost fell asleep but managed to shake his head when he felt he was getting a bit too comfortable with the heat. Fainting in a hot spring and being seen by your teacher in your birthday suit is a big no-no. He stood up and placed a towel on his bottom half and raked his hand on his hair. The air was warm and comfortable enough as he walked to the dressing room and changed into his night clothes. The temple was simple. Considerably smaller than the temple back at China as he would describe it since he's pretty sure that they're not in China anymore since several plants that grew there were not native in Asia, he really had to thank his daddy for educating him with the species of plants during his earlier years. If he were to guess, he would probably say maybe in Central America.
There were only four rooms in the temple. His teacher's, the meditation hall, the storage and his room that was formerly the scroll room. The old parchments and bundles of calligraphy brushes were his roommates.
He saw Master Li's shadow against the wall panel as he went into his room. "Have a good night's rest Clay. Tomorrow we will start your training with the earth" Li said.
Clay nodded though he knew that Li couldn't see it and replied, "Yes master. I'll do my best" There was no response after that so Clay went ahead and tucked himself in a bedroll with a single candle that served as his light.
xxxxxx
As soon as the sun began to rise, Clay and Li were already in the training ground with Clay stifling a yawn that threatened to emerge. Li, dressed in a more casual white robe and brown loose pants with sandals, had stepped in front of the tall boy with his hands at his front.
"Tell me Clay, what is your general knowledge of the elements?"
Clay scratched his head under his hat lightly, "Master Fung had said that the four elements held the natural balance of the world and we all have our own strengths and weaknesses. That's about it" he answered honestly.
Li nodded as he leaned down; Clay was ready to catch him in case he slips though in a non-obvious way of course, and held up a parchment that laid among the grass. He opened the scroll and revealed a full page filled with Chinese characters and the four drawings of the ancient elements.
"Don't worry, I won't force you to translate this" he chuckled in good naturedly as he saw Clay's eyes follow the strokes of the characters.
He pointed at the first part which had a water drop drawing on it. "This is 'Shuî' or 'Water' as you may know. The element of water is always moving as the currents it produced. Unbendable and unbreakable; the xiaolin dragon of water is the representation of wisdom, aptitude and empathy." He pointed his finger on the next one with the picture of a rock
"Secondly, your own element. The Earth or 'Tû'. The earth was ever firm and strong. As the representative of the element and the xiaolin dragon of earth, Clay, you have to be the embodiment of patience, strength and stability." Clay fought a smile, it had always been his role to be the mediator of the group and it seemed that they have already begun to mold into their elements without knowing it.
Then came the picture of a cloud. He had to admit, a soft snigger escaped his mouth when imagined Raimundo's indignant face if he saw that he was being pictured as a cute puffy cloud. "Wind or 'Fêng'. While we break away from the traditional Wu Xing system that most monks had followed, the xiaolin dragon of wind was born as one of the dominant elements over metal and wood." He held up a hand as the breeze picked up its speed,
"The wind is always unpredictable and considered as the life force since all living creatures relied on the air to continue living. Its power had ranged from a gentle breeze to a devastating hurricane which made this power difficult to control. The xiaolin dragon of wind displayed kindness, the natural playfulness and intelligence. The Shoku warrior might have already shown this disposition which deemed him worthy to receive his title."
"Rai really is all of those things" Clay offered with a big grin on his face. His pride for his friend was obvious and his teacher knew it was sincere. "I'm sure after our trainings, you shall receive the rank as well" he confirmed but Clay shook his head,
"I won't lie if I say that it would be mighty fine to be a Shoku warrior but I feel like I'm not ready for that yet and there's a reason why Rai's the only one that got promoted."
Master Li was silent for a moment before he nodded and accepted Clay's answer for the time being. He folded the paper to show the last element. A thin picture of a flame was depicted.
"Lastly, Fire or 'Hûo'. The element that was the most regarded along water in all cultures. Fire is uncontainable and destructive-" he stopped when Clay's eyes widened at the negative attribute being pointed out.
"We must understand this, although fire is destructive, the xiaolin dragon of fire must have the discipline to use their power wisely to control their rampaging element. Fire is the most dangerous of the four if fallen to the wrong hands. The xiaolin dragon of fire is the dragon of valiance, persistence and of course, bravery." He rolled the scroll into a tight furl and knotted the string around it. As he did so, Clay recollected some of the memories from one of their adventures, particularly the Birds of Paradise that told them their greatest characteristics. Omi has his loyalty, he got his strength, Raimundo's kindness and Kimiko' courage.
"Now Clay," Li suddenly stated, "Try and focus your chi all over your body. You do know Tai Chi yes?" he asked as he got into position.
Clay nodded and copied his teacher's stance, "Master Fung taught me some moves, yeah"
"I will teach you how to perfectly sync your chi to all the parts of your body. The more you can control your chi, the more you can achieve in battles."
Raimundo took another swig of water into his mouth as he wiped his forehead with his sleeves. Master Min Yen had timed his speed and reflexes with a series of obstacle courses and training dummies. The master monk nodded in satisfaction at his latest results. Thirteen seconds on the hurdles, ninety seven percent in accuracy with the test dummies and his method of using the wind's direction as his leverage.
Still, he has to improve his agility and stealth before he could celebrate. He leaned his back on the wall and sat down. It had been three days since he came here and the day that prompted him to return to the xiaolin temple was so close that he couldn't sleep. He wanted to tell his experience with them and swap stories about their masters. He wanted to know Kimiko's experience more. He could imagine her grumpy face and no doubt by this time; she was butting heads with her master.
A frown marred his face when he thought about Master Huojin. There was something about that guy he didn't like; apart from his insulting and critical persona. And the way he glared at Kimiko, he could have easily thought that the guy looked down at her since she's a girl.
He shook his head; Kimiko would prove to that guy that she earned her place just like they did so he couldn't hold her gender from her.
"Again!"
His tone was brutal despite his calm posture in the side of the courtyard. Here he was sipping tea on the stone bench while Kimiko does yet another set of push ups. She didn't question his methods. The first two days, he made her do all the chores but in a more outrageous scale such as cleaning the whole temple which she started at the crack of dawn and ended a few seconds before midnight. Wax the floor. Polish the pillars, twice.
And now he ordered her to do push ups and laps all day. She endured his taunts and indifference with grace, always kept her silence and her head down. It was never a good idea to question your teacher no matter how much of a jerk he was being.
Her arms screamed for a rest even for a minute. Muscles burned and her whole body shook as it tried to force itself against gravity yet again. With every stretch she made, her body plummeted to the ground. She had lost count on how many she managed to do before Huojin stood and went inside without so much as a word.
Omi focused his chi on his forehead as Master Fung instructed. He could feel the flow of chi in his body and slowly swayed his arms to a full circle; his body followed the suit and glided his right foot an inch above the ground while his left balanced his movements. He held up his right arm and pulled to the opposite side.
Vapor appeared and followed his movements with ease. He opened his eyes and melded the vapor into a circular form.
A water ball materialized from the gathered vapor and Omi clasped his hands between it, and it returned to its former material.
"Very good Omi" Master Fung praised, "You have managed to manipulate the water's form. Now, I will teach you a new move. It's in Shoku level so it will be harder to do."
"I can easily do it master!" Omi insisted.
Fung shook his head and went near the pond. He closed his eyes and positioned his hands in front of him. He performed a series of stances that Omi had never seen before.
Omi had never seen his teacher move fast and fluid. Water followed his every move and in the matter of seconds, it formed into several ice crystals and flew to the ground, embedding itself on the dirt. But it didn't stop there; the ice crystals slowly crept to the ground and the ice began to look like veins.
The water in the pond was lessened but the koi fishes were still able to swim freely. Omi watched in fascination was Master Fung held up his hand and the ice crystals melted almost immediately.
"Ooh, that is most impressive! I want to try!" Omi cheered as he rushed towards the other monk. Fung instructed his pupil to memorize the positions and let his chi flow through every part of his body.
"I have demonstrated the technique. But as the xiaolin dragon of water, the effect will be even more powerful. But this is the tool which you will be practicing on."
He pointed a small wooden bucket at which Omi scoffed at; "But master, I could surely do that to something as vast as the sea! A bucket is merely an-"
"Omi"
He slumped his shoulders and took a deep breath. With eyes closed and his aura glow in participation, he performed the stances and felt his chi move to his fingertips. The slosh of the water made him confident and he raised his hands. Minutes ticked and Omi opened one eye to see that the water retained its state, unlike the one Master Fung's demonstration. He placed the water back into the bucket and tried again. And again, and again. By the end if the fifteenth try, Omi was steaming from his ears.
"Master, how did you form the ice crystals without shaping it?" he asked as he furiously scratched his head. Master Fung hid a small cryptic smile. Omi was not one to ask for help since he was always so self-reliant. He looked up to the skies to see if Dojo had returned. It was the sixth day, which meant that the others will return from their training and Dojo will fetch them one by one.
"All I can tell young one, is to become one with the element"
"One with the element?" Omi echoed and placed a hand to his chin. An image popped into his head with him being portrayed as a fish. A sea turtle Dojo appeared next to him and said,
"Kid! Snap outta your daydreaming, the others are back!"
Omi blinked from his hallucination and gaped at Dojo, "Oh! But I must master this technique first so that I can show it to them!" He turned his back on the dragon and began to practice his stance again and muttered words like "Maybe a wrong position" or "Too fast!"
Dojo sighed as he slipped to the main hall where the three were. Clay and Raimundo talked animatedly about their experience while Kimiko preferred to sip her tea and excused herself to go to the bathroom.
"-and Master Li taught me how to gather more strength using tai chi!" Clay exclaimed while he poured himself another cup.
Rai folded his arms and grinned, "Our masters are pretty cool. Except when Master Min Yen told me to jump over a cliff."
"Uh-oh, did you pull a prank on him Rai?"
"Pfft I wish" the Shoku warrior snorted, "It was a test to see if I can fly without any use of Shen Gong Wu. Man, if I hadn't done it before, he would have pushed me off to see if I can manage to pull it in a life or death situation."
Clay choked on his tea and laughed. Dojo entered the scene with a bored look, "I expected Omi to jump around like a bouncy ball when I told 'im you guys are back but he's too busy playing with water" Clay and Raimundo looked at each other and Clay said, "Training?"
Raimundo shook his head, "Nah, maybe just showing off his new moves so that he can be Shoku too" he theorized. Dojo grunted in agreement and looked around, "Hey, where's Kimiko?"
"Went into the bathroom" Clay answered.
Dojo jumped on the cushion and scratched his belly, "Man, she's got it rough." Raimundo's eyebrows scrunched as he picked up his cup. Kimiko did look the most tired amongst all of them. Her eyes had dark shadows with bags underneath. She was the last one to be brought back to the temple and the first to greet her was naturally Raimundo.
She almost went to sleep when he enveloped his arms around her. He slyly commented about just how much she missed him which she replied with a painful pinch on his cheek. Her clothes were as extravagant as ever but it was like she put it on out of habit rather than vanity needs.
"Master Huojin's the strictest of all the masters. Man, the guy can't even take a joke or two" Dojo said as he lounged on the cushion.
"But he can't be that bad, can he?" Clay asked, "I mean, he was selected to be one of the teachers right?"
"The teachers weren't picked because of their soft and cuddly attitude like Master Fung" the dragon explained, "They were picked because of their knowledge of the elements and their fighting skills were only below Grand Master Dashi. The Fung-meister was the best of his class and knows a thing or two about martial arts." He turned to Clay, "Master Li was the green thumb of his batch and his physical prowess was scary. He was quiet and like a wallflower."
"What about Min Yen?" Rai asked, he wanted to know about his calm teacher's past.
Dojo stroked his beard and rattled his brain, "Min Yen and Huojin are in the same class. Now that I think about it, Min Yen was a lot like you; a laid back guy, cocky, lazy, rebellious, over self-confident and a prankster who would do anything to skip his chores."
Clay snickered as Raimundo pulled a face, "Admit it Rai, that does sound like you"
"Hey no interruptions!" Dojo scolded. "Now where was I? Oh yeah, Min Yen was the troublemaker while Huojin was the master's pet. Brrr, that guy's scary even when he was a kid. He was the loner and uptight that almost all kids are afraid of him except for Min Yen. Those two were always hilarious to watch."
"Woah woah woah!" Rai exclaimed and waved his arms around like a headless chicken, "You mean those two were like friends? Like friends friends?"
"Yep. Min Yen follows Huojin around like a puppy since Huojin helps him outta trouble because he know he will be pulled into Min Yen's shenanigans. More like BFF's actually. Well that's what their relationship was."
Clay took another sip of his tea and noted the word, "What do you mean 'was'? Aren't they still friends?"
Dojo quickly snapped his jaws shut when he realized his mistake. He jumped out of the cushion and quickly said, "I better take a look and see if Master Fung needs something."
"Yeah, that's original" drawled Raimundo as he looked at the hallway where Dojo disappeared to. He folded his arms and loudly wondered, "Where did Kim go?"
Kimiko shuddered as the cold water hit her face. Her breath shook as she leaned on the sink and folded her hands on her forehead. Exhaustion had already taken a toll on her and while she could handle the tough training and daily chores, she wanted to seriously train with her element. And when Huojin gave back the vital part of her chi, she felt whole again. She learned nothing except for the certainty that she needed to boost her physical strength and speed. Apart from that, nothing. Her fists clenched and the fire within her rampaged as it fed the negative emotions.
'Calm down Kim, calm down. He's just testing you that's all. Just relax and enjoy your free time while it lasts' she coaxed herself into get a grip and breathed deeply. The phase 'inner peace' repeated in her brain like a mantra as she walked out of the bathroom.
An unmistakable slosh of water was heard just outside the temple, making her walk to the courtyard and watched Omi move lithely with the water around him.
It was like watching a dance where the water bended at his will and Kimiko caught herself looking on with a hint of envy. No doubt Raimundo and Clay would be talking about the great experience they had with their teachers while she was being treated like a trainee.
"Kimiko?"
Omi's voice snapped her back to reality and saw the bald monk with a questioning gaze. She plastered a smile on her lips and gave him a hug, "Hey there Omi. Got any Wu's since we left?"
"Oh yes! I have acquired the Headband of Athena and fought with Jack Spicer. Of course I had won and I also acquired the Monkey Staff." Omi's smug smirk grew as Kimiko praised his work. But he entirely left the conversation with Chase Young in the dark for now. He didn't know how everyone else would take this.
"There you are! We've been looking for you all over the place!" Raimundo's heavily accented voice interrupted their talk as he and Clay strolled to the grounds. Clay placed his big hand on Omi while Raimundo silently looked at Kimiko with the corner of his eye. She looked more cheerful than earlier and he took a mental note to tell her what they discussed with Dojo just recently.
"And what's this Shen Gong Wu we'd heard about? Dojo didn't say anything" Clay inquired as he fixed his red scarf that was tied around his neck.
With much gusto, Omi recounted his fight with Jack and how he tricked the boy genius to a hand-to-hand combat which made everyone burst into laughter. The sole female couldn't remember the last time she laughed within those five days with her master. There was air of tension between them while a bubble of warmth and comfort surrounded her while she was with her friends.
"Do you want to see the Headband of Athena? Dojo said it was part of four Shen Gong Wus that connect with each other" Omi offered them. Kimiko and Clay nodded and followed him to the Shen Gong Wu vault. But Kimiko was held back by a tanned hand that was wrapped around her pale wrist. Kimiko raised a brow at her friend but obediently let him lead the way to the lone willow tree.
"Kim, everything alright?" he asked quietly as they sat under the shade. Kimiko paused from fiddling with the hem of her shirt before she answered,
"Of course I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be?"
A deep intake of breath prompted her to stare at the dragon of wind. He leaned his back on the tree and focused his eyes directly in front of him. She studied his features and was surprised about how little she noticed. The thickness of his eyebrows, his forest green eyes that twinkled with mischievousness. The bridge of his nose to his cheekbones. His mouth that was a bit chapped and the shape of his jowls which had become more prominent as the years went by.
She was not one to be attracted by physical appearances alone but as much as she tried to deny it with herself, Raimundo was, though not model material (except in the athletics department), he can definitely turn a few heads and couple with the charm and smooth-talking, he could get any girl he wants.
And there laid the problem. It was not a secret that he was a major flirt. He would hit on pretty girls everywhere they went and it grated on her nerves even more than his prank antics. She knew he was protective of her, but mainly because she was a girl and maybe it was a code of moral or chivalry that was drilled into his brain.
'Or maybe he sees you as a fair game' a nasty little voice in back of her head jeered.
A painful stab to her chest responded. It was wrong of her to even insinuate something like that. Raimundo was many things but he will not toy with other people's emotions like that. Heck, he doesn't even know her still growing attraction towards him! No, this was no time to be thinking about having a love life!
A gentle prod on her forehead made her blink absent-mindedly and jumped when her companion's face was a few centimeters away from hers.
"Your head's up in the clouds chiça" he joked.
"Do that again and I'll burn your hair off" she threatened but Raimundo just stuck out his tongue, folded his arms behind his head and leaned on the tree.
"How was training?" Kimiko asked in an nonchalant manner. Raimundo shrugged and said, "Not much, basic combat here, elemental exercise there. You?"
"Same" she fibbed. She was going to tell him about what she had been doing, her master's cold treatment towards her and lack of any real training. She would look like a whiner and he would use it as evidence that she was not to study under him. But her pride won't let him have that satisfaction, and she will show him, show everyone that she can and will be the xiaolin dragon of fire.
A/N: That's it for now people. I hope you enjoyed a bit of a background story of the masters because they are a critical point in the story. Now about the Wu Xing system. The Xiaolin Chronicles used this that's why they got Ping-pong a role. Wind was not part of the system that's why I rejected the Wu Xing system and stayed to the ancient elements. And the 'Join me, join the Heylin Side' almost made me add, "We have Chase Young" in the dialogue. And I even imagined a picture of Chase while wearing the Uncle Sam costume. And I'm not even an American hahah.
Guys, again, thanks for the reviews. You know how I roll, the more reviews which contained opinions and thoughts makes me happier and results to more lengthy and earlier updates! Minimum of 5 reviews for the next chappie!
SPOILER ALERT! Read at your own risk!
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Random rant corner: What… why in the hell did I just learned that Kimiko has an older sister with a whacked up name?! 'Tigress Woo' with a side job that is so whacked even for a cartoon?! Why?! Tell me! C'mon guys, Tigress Woo?! Fuck this shit. Writers; you're totally ruining my childhood. Like Teen Titans' sequel.